Speed reversals and consultation transitional changes in 2024-25
Submission from Spokes Canterbury
Reference: https://www.nzta.govt.nz/safety/driving-safely/speed/state-highway-speed-management/speed-reversals-and-consultation-transitional-changes-in-2024-25/canterbury/
Tēnā koutou katoa
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Speed reversals and transitional changes in 2024-25 for Waitaha Canterbury.
Introduction
Spokes Canterbury (http://www.spokes.org.nz/) is a local cycling advocacy group with approximately 1,200 followers. Spokes is affiliated with the national Cycling Action Network (CAN – https://can.org.nz/). Spokes is dedicated to including cycling as an everyday form of transport in the greater Christchurch and Canterbury areas. Spokes has a long history of advocacy in this space including writing submissions, presenting to councils, and working collaboratively with others in the active transport space. We focus on the need for safe cycling for those aged 8 to 80. Spokes also supports all forms of active transport, public transport, and has an interest in environmental matters.
Proposal Overview
Overall Spokes Canterbury would like today’s speed limits to remain in place, as they are safer for all road users, especially as other safety measures such as median separation, safer intersections, and separated cycleways/clip-on lanes to cross rivers have not yet been built. Extensive consultation and technical assessments were undertaken to decide on the speed limits in place today, and changing them in this minimally-engaged consultation is an insult to the community, iwi partners, stakeholders, and the technical staff who designed those speed limits in order to save lives and livelihoods – the real winners in an economic analysis.
SH1 south of Woodend
Please maintain the existing speed limit of 80 km/h. At the time of the last speed changes, September 2020, associated planning for safety upgrades was also underway, proposing wide centrelines, median barriers, and intersection improvements such as traffic lights, roundabouts or left-in/left-out access to the highway. Changing the speeds was recommended as a cost-effective way to quickly reduce the risk of death and serious injury crashes. Since then, the planned safety upgrades on the highway have not been prioritised for construction. In particular, the intersection with Williams Street at Pineacres is significantly safer at 80 km/h than at 100 km/h, as the variable speed zone was mostly ignored. Cyclists are forced to ride on the road shoulder between Kaiapoi and Woodend along this section of SH1 (between Pineacres and Woodend) with no separation (a significant gap in the cycleway network in Waimakariri District). We certainly hope that the motorway extension planned to bypass Woodend includes a shared path alongside it, similar to the Christchurch Northern Corridor shared path, which is tremendously successful. Please do not make this stretch of highway any more dangerous than it already is. The intersection with Pa Road, leading to Tuahiwi, is also a significant crash site.
SH1 south of Templeton
Please maintain the existing speed limit of 80 km/h. The speed limit was reduced in this location from 100 km/h to 80 km/h in March 2021 because of significant changes to the road environment with the opening of the Christchurch Southern Motorway, completion of the Dawsons Road roundabout, and removal of the old southbound passing lane. The reduced speed limit and roundabout help manage traffic speeds entering and exiting the motorway and Templeton. It matches the highway speed limits with surrounding local roads, creating a more consistent environment for road users. Cyclists use Dawsons and Waterholes Roads, which connect to the partially constructed shared path between Templeton and Rolleston along Jones Road, crossing SH1 at the roundabout. 100 km/h is inappropriate for a road with a roundabout, meaning drivers won’t be expecting a roundabout and therefore not be decelerating enough before the intersection.
SH1 north of Rakaia
Please maintain the existing speed limit of 80 km/h. This speed limit was reduced from 100 km/h to 80 km/h in May 2024, along with 3 other speed limit changes linked with the construction of the new Rakaia Commercial Vehicle Safety Centre (CVSC). The road starts from the edge of Rakaia township and provides access across the narrow Rakaia River bridge past the new safety centre and narrow curved railway overpass through to Weavers Road. There is no median barrier separation on this road to prevent head-on crashes. The speed limit reduction was implemented to ensure the centre could operate safely. At the time of the change, consultation with the community showed support for the lowered speed here, noting it was more appropriate for the narrow bridge structure. Cyclists Cross Rakaia River bridge where there is no separated cycling facility, so the slower the speed limit, the more likely drivers are to spot cyclists and give them space or wait behind them. Rakaia River Bridge is narrow, so often there is someone unfamiliar with the road travelling well below 100 km/h anyway, which again makes 80 km/h a safer option. The 80 km/h segment is also a good buffer zone when approaching Rakaia, which should stay at 50 km/h so locals and visitors can cycle and cross the road and not live in fear of being run over. 80 km/h is much safer for the railway overpass between North Rakaia Road and Main Rakaia Road, and the intersections with SH1.
SH1 south of Glenavy
Please maintain the existing speed limit of 80 km/h. This 2-lane road joins Glenavy and the small settlement of Waitaki Bridge Village across the narrow Waitaki River bridge, and includes a well used rest area on the north bank of the Waitaki River. The speed limit was lowered to 80 km/h in September 2020, following on-going community demand for a lower speed limit to improve safety, given the history of fatal crashes. There are several intersections, roadside power poles and ditches which have caused safety issues and there is no median barrier separation to prevent head on crashes. Cyclists and pedestrians are forced to cross the narrow Waitaki River bridge as there are no separated crossing facilities. The current speed limit of 80 km/h provides a good buffer before entering Glenavy township, which will remain at 60km/h.
Submissions Co-ordinator
Spokes Canterbury
submissions@spokes.org.nz
