by Alison King alison.king@bopp.co.nz Speed limits across the Western Bay are to be brought down to help make roads safer. Western Bay of Plenty District Council yesterday agreed to lower the speeds on four roads. Each year, speed limits in one of the five wards of the network are reviewed, which means theentire district is covered over five years. This year it was the turn of the Te Puke ward, although the council also asked for other roads to be included. The council agreed to keep some speed limits as is, and will check to ensure the correct signs are in place. Washer Rd, as a no-exit road, will keep its 100 km/h limit. Te Puna Rd from the 50km/h speed limit to Te Puna Station Rd will remain at 80km/h. The limit on the section of Whakamarama Rd from Old Highway to Youngson Rd will stay 100km/h. Transportation manager Alex Finn said the review was straightforward. "Usually, speed limits are very contentious in a community, but we had only one submission and that was anticipated," he said. This was about Te Puna Rd, from the 50km/h area to the Te Puna Station Rd intersection. He said he would be contacting the New Zealand Transport Agency to try to reduce the speed limit on State Highway 2 through Te Puna from 80km/h to 70km/h. The changes take effect from February 1. Esdaile Rd from State Highway 2 to 800m east of Lowe Rd changes from 80 and 100km/h to 80km/h. Oropi Rd from 250m north of Oropi Gorge Rd to 300m south of Gamman Mill Rd changes from from 100km/h to 70km/h. Dudley Vercoe Dr from No 2 Rd to the end are to change from 100km/h to 80km/h. Te Puke Quarry Rd from SH2 to Manoeka Rd goes from 100km/h to 80km/h.
