Eight new speed limits will come into effect within the Ashburton District on 1 November – most in and near new subdivisions at Tinwald, Methven and Ashburton east.

The new speed limits are:

• Ashbury Grove subdivision (Tinwald) – new 40km/h area
• Grahams Road (Tinwald) – reduced from 80km/h to 50km/h until past the Ashbury Grove entrance
• Strowan Fields subdivision (Hampstead) – new 40km/h area
• Wakanui Road – reduced from 60km/h to 50km/h until to past the Strowan Fields entrance
• Carrfields subdivision (Tinwald) – extend 50km/h
• Westview Drive (Tinwald) – new 40km/h area
• Holmes Road (Methven) – reduced from 100km/h to 50km/h
• Albert Street (Ashburton ) – reduced from 60km/h to 50km/h west of the existing 30km/h Ashburton Christian School speed limit

Infrastructure and Open Spaces Group Manager Neil McCann said Council approved the new limits at their meeting this week.

“There has been a bit of subdivision development at various sites outside 50km/h urban areas so a speed reduction is warranted. It means that people leaving the subdivisions are turning into slower moving traffic, which is safer for everyone.

“At Albert Street, the speed limit currently goes from 30 outside the Christian School, to 60 heading towards Trevors Road and then 50 at Trevors Road. Removing the 60 tidies up an unnecessary change.”

Signs for the new speed limits will be in place before 1 November and the limits will be added to Waka Kotahi’s official speed limit register.

Council still intends to review the permanent 30km/h speed limits around urban schools early next year.

Waka Kotahi is also progressing speed limit changes on State Highway 77 outside the Opuke Thermal Hot Pools in Methven (from 100km/h to 60km/h) and on State Highway 1 through Rakaia (from 70km/h to 50km/h). These changes are included the Waka Kotahi Interim Speed Management Plan which is awaiting certification before the changes can be made.