Summer speed limit of 70km/h on dangerous segment of road

Speed limit lowered for parts of Hawke's Bay.

A 70km/h speed limit is being introduced during the busy summer season on a stretch of the expressway near Hawke's Bay Airport which had become tagged as a black spot over the past couple of years.

The intersection of Meeanee Quay and Watchman Rd with the expressway was the scene of a fatal accident back in October when a tourist trying to cross the stretch with his bicycle was struck by a car and killed.

Two months earlier a woman was seriously injured after a collision between a car and a truck.

The stretch had been under an 80km/h limit but that would be lowered to 70km/h from today through to February 29.

New Zealand Transport Agency Napier journey manager Oliver Postings said the agency and police had consulted over the move and believed it to be an effective way to improve safety, at an especially busy time of the year.

Police would keep the stretch under surveillance.

The limit will take in the stretch from the airport to south of Meeanee Quay.

"This section is well known to local drivers and includes some of the more challenging road features of a state highway," Mr Postings said.

"Given the influx of visitors into the region over the summer period the Transport Agency and police believe that a temporary speed limit reduction will be an effective means of improving safety on this section of highway for the summer season when many visiting drivers will be using the road."

The agency also has long-term plans for continuing to increase safety on the stretch.

"Safety improvements for these intersections will be addressed as part of work on the whole section of road to be carried out in late 2016 or early 2017," Mr Postings said.

"During construction this section will be under traffic management for some months, and the temporary restriction this season will set the scene for motorists over the next summer season as further improvements are made."