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    Auckland’s Northern Gateway toll road to increase speed limit to 110km/h

    Synopsis

    Starting Monday, May 26th, the speed limit on a 5.5-kilometer section of State Highway 1 north of Auckland will increase to 110km/h. Transport Minister Chris Bishop announced the change for the Northern Gateway Toll Road, citing economic growth and productivity benefits. The decision follows a public consultation where 93% of submissions supported the increase, with additional safety improvements planned.

    Open Road, Northern GatewayTIL Creatives
    From May 26, a 5.5km stretch of Auckland’s Northern Gateway Toll Road will see its speed limit raised to 110km/h
    The speed limit on a 5.5-kilometer stretch of State Highway 1 (SH1) north of Auckland will increase from 100km/h to 110km/h from Monday(May 26). This change applies to the Northern Gateway Toll Road, spanning from north of Ōrewa to just south of the Johnstone’s Hill Tunnels.

    Transport Minister Chris Bishop announced the change, emphasizing the government's focus on economic growth and productivity. “With around 11,000 vehicles per day travelling on the Northern Gateway, 9 per cent of that being heavy vehicles, the new higher speed limit of 110km/h will help ensure people and freight can get to where they need to go, quickly and safely,” Bishop stated.

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    The decision follows a public consultation conducted by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency from September 3 to October 1, 2024. The agency received over 7,900 submissions, with 93 percent supporting the speed limit increase and 91 percent expressing strong support.

    The Northern Gateway Toll Road was designed with high safety standards, including two lanes in each direction, physical median barriers, and a wide, mostly straight alignment. Additional safety improvements are being considered over the next 12 to 18 months.

    However, the speed limit through the Johnstone’s Hill Tunnels will remain at 80km/h due to the different safety risks posed by the enclosed environment.

    Police will enforce the new speed limit as they do on other roads, with patrols expected "anywhere, at any time," according to Bishop.

    The Northern Gateway Toll Road is a crucial corridor connecting Auckland and Northland, serving both the freight and tourism sectors. The speed limit increase is part of the government's broader efforts to enhance transportation efficiency and support economic development.


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