Waka Kotahi looks at lower speeds for crash spots between Levin and Shannon

Sections of State Highway 57 between Levin and Shannon could see a reduction in speed limits.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is proposing lower speed limits on State Highway 57 between Levin and Shannon.

Director of regional relationships Linda Stewart said the proposed changes were an effort to prevent people being killed or seriously injured on the road.

"People travel this road on their way to work or school, to visit family and friends, to pick up their groceries or to see the doctor. Wherever it is, they should be able to get their destination and back home safely," she said.

"Safe speeds save lives. Whatever the cause of a crash, speed is the biggest factor that determines whether a person is killed, seriously injured, or walks away unharmed.

"We know from the feedback we've had from the community, the crash history on the road, and population growth in the area that the current speed limits on State Highway 57 are not safe and appropriate. That's why we are proposing new, safer speeds for the road."

Between 2015 and December 2020 there were 23 serious crashes on SH57. Seven people were killed and 24 people seriously injured.

The Queen St, Tararua Rd and Buckley Rd intersections were the sites of four serious and three fatal crashes in that time period.

"Waka Kotahi has a vision of an Aotearoa where no one is killed or seriously injured on our roads. To achieve this, we need to create a safe transport system that recognises that people make mistakes and is designed so that these mistakes don't cost lives," she said.

"This requires a mix of solutions that work together to keep people safe. So alongside proposing safer speeds, we are also making a number of infrastructure improvements on the highway, including a new roundabout at the Queen St intersection, side barriers and widened centrelines."

Waka Kotahi is now inviting people to make a submission on the proposed speed limit changes. Formal consultation is open from today until 5pm on September 27.

Submissions will be considered by Waka Kotahi when making its final decisions on the speed limit changes, alongside technical assessments of the road.

"Feedback from locals and people who use the road regularly will help us ensure we get our final decisions right. We want to hear from as many people as possible about what they think of our proposal and whether there are any other factors we need to consider," she said.

Proposed speed limit changes:

- 310m east of SH1 intersection to 360m south of Graham St, Shannon, from 100km/h to 80km/h

- 360m south of Graham St, Shannon, to 20m north of Vance Street: from 70km/h to 60km/h

People can visit www.nzta.govt.nz/o2nl-safe-speeds to find out more about how to make a submission.