Speed limits reduced - Fenton St down to 50km/h

Some speed limits are coming down around Rotorua. Drivers need to beware of the changes.

Speed limits are to be reduced on a number of Rotorua roads to improve public safety.

The new speed limit bylaw amendments were approved at a meeting of Rotorua District Council's Strategy, Policy & Finance Committee on Tuesday following a period of public consultation.

The new approved speed limits are:

* Fenton St - 50km/h, down from 60km/h from Sala St to Malfroy Rd

* Tarawera Rd - 50km/h, down from 70km/h from the Te Ngae Rd roundabout to just past Lynmore Ave

* Tarawera Rd - 50km/h, down from 100km/h at Tikitapu (Blue Lake), from DoC entrance to Okareka Loop Rd

* Otaramarae Rd - 50km/h, down from 100km/h from Maniatutu Rd to 1060m south of Vercoe Pl

* Wharenui Rd - 50km/h, down from 100km/h from Porikapa Rd

* Hamurana Rd - 80km/h, down from 100km/h from 200m west of Kaska Rd to 100m east of Te Waerenga Rd

The changes all relate to sections of roads where local residents have identified excessive traffic speed as a community safety concern.

Committee chairwoman Merepeka Raukawa-Tait said the council had listened to the community's concerns and roading engineers had investigated a range of options.
Rotorua police, the Automobile Association and New Zealand Transport Agency had also been consulted as part of the process.

Mrs Raukawa-Tait said she expected particular interest in reducing the current 60km/h limit on Fenton St down to 50km/h, something which has been advocated by the Rotorua Association of Motels.

"The reality is that speeds have reduced along Fenton St since a number of roundabouts were installed as crash reduction measures. So the new 50km/h speed limit comes into line with actual existing speed and won't mean much change for most people."

The new speed limits are expected to come into effect by the end of November, once new signage is installed.