Latest news with #NZTransportAgency
NZ Herald
6 days ago
- NZ Herald
Crash on Auckland's Southern Motorway delays holiday traffic ahead of King's Birthday Weekend
Southbound traffic on the Southwestern Motorway, meanwhile, was badly congested from the junction with the Southern back to the Waterview Tunnel. Am I going to get stuck in traffic if I try to escape the city? To help keep journeys flowing, major roadworks generally pause during holiday weekends but NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi's Journey Planner has identified several choke points where traffic will likely build up at peak times this weekend. Traffic on SH1 southbound between Wellsford and Pūhoi is expected to be at its heaviest between 2pm and 4pm on Monday. Traffic heading out of Auckland is at a near-complete standstill across the motorway network this evening as holidaymakers start their break. Photo / Google From Manukau to Bombay on SH1 there were several periods where traffic was predicted to be heavy and slow-moving, the transport agency warned. Heading south, traffic was expected to be busy from 7.30am through to 8pm on Friday, before peaking between 9am and 11am on Saturday. Northbound traffic will be busy between noon and 6pm on Sunday and from 11am through to 3pm Monday as Aucklanders return home. Acting director of road policing, Inspector Peter McKennie, urged motorists to put safety first this weekend and take their time, drive to the conditions and be patient. 'So many of the crashes we've attended this year have been preventable, and that's a tragedy.' Motorists can expect extra police to be patrolling the roads across the King's Birthday weekend period, with McKennie signalling officers would be on the watch for infringements related to restraints, impairment through the likes of alcohol and drugs, distractions such as cellphones, and speed. 'Those are four areas we're targeting because we know it can save lives. A split-second decision can be the difference between life and death.' Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
6 days ago
- Climate
- RNZ News
Heavy snow falls on South Island as winter cold snap descends
Strong winds and low-level snow are sweeping over the lower South Island in a winter cold snap. The town of Naseby was among parts of Central Otago briefly blanketed in white on Friday morning, as temperatures tumbled and a southwest flow moved in. Queenstown Lakes District Council warned snow could also settle on alpine highways on Friday afternoon, including two centimetres on the Crown Range Road and through the Lindis Pass above 700 metres. Further south, the NZ Transport Agency recorded snow at the Homer Tunnel and urged people to take care on the drive from Te Anau to Milford. Heavy snow in South Island town of Naseby. Photo: Naseby General Store MetService issued an orange wind warning for Fiordland, Southland, Stewart Island, Clutha and Dunedin from 3pm Friday, saying severe gale southwesterlies could gust up to 130kph in exposed places until Saturday afternoon. "Prepare your property by securing items that can be picked up by strong winds," it advised. MetService also issued a strong wind watch for the Canterbury High Country. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scoop
Auckland's Northern Gateway Toll Road To Go To 110 Km/h
Press Release – New Zealand Government Minister of Transport A new 110km/h speed limit on State Highway 1 (SH1) for the Northern Gateway Toll Road, from north of Orewa to south of the Johnstone's Hill Tunnels, will come into effect from 26 May, Transport Minister Chris Bishop announced today. 'Economic growth and productivity are a priority for the Government, and 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,' Mr Bishop says. 'Late last year, the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) consulted on the proposed speed limit increase to 110km/h. More than 7,900 submissions were received from across Northland and Auckland, with 93% in support of the increased speed limit and 91% strongly supporting it. 'This road has been designed and constructed with safety features such as two lanes in each direction providing safe passing opportunities, physical median separation between opposing lanes, and a mostly straight, wide alignment. Additional safety improvements are being considered over the next 12 to 18 months. 'Kiwis have had their say and NZTA have assessed the Northern Gateway Toll Road as being safe to increase the speed limit to 110km/h. Now, we're getting on and delivering it. Police will apply the same enforcement to 110km/h roads as any other part of the road network. Drivers can expect to see police patrols on New Zealand roads anywhere, at any time. 'The Northern Gateway Toll Road is a crucial corridor for road users and freight, and well as tourists, and forms an important part of the key strategic route between Auckland and Whangārei, and beyond into Northland. I look forward to the new 110km/h speed limit coming into effect later this month. The new 110km/h speed limit on the Northern Gateway Toll Road comes into effect on Monday 26 May and will apply for 5.5km section of State Highway 1 (SH1) from north of Orewa to south of the Johnstones Hill Tunnels. Note: The speed limit on SH1 through the Johnstones Hill Tunnels will remain 80km/h. While the SH1 Johnstones Hill Tunnels are built to high safety standards, the enclosed environment within a tunnel creates a different safety risk to that of the surrounding motorway. There are no current plans to review or change the speed limit for this section.
Scoop
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scoop
Auckland's Northern Gateway Toll Road To Go To 110 Km/h
Minister of Transport A new 110km/h speed limit on State Highway 1 (SH1) for the Northern Gateway Toll Road, from north of Orewa to south of the Johnstone's Hill Tunnels, will come into effect from 26 May, Transport Minister Chris Bishop announced today. 'Economic growth and productivity are a priority for the Government, and 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,' Mr Bishop says. 'Late last year, the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) consulted on the proposed speed limit increase to 110km/h. More than 7,900 submissions were received from across Northland and Auckland, with 93% in support of the increased speed limit and 91% strongly supporting it. 'This road has been designed and constructed with safety features such as two lanes in each direction providing safe passing opportunities, physical median separation between opposing lanes, and a mostly straight, wide alignment. Additional safety improvements are being considered over the next 12 to 18 months. 'Kiwis have had their say and NZTA have assessed the Northern Gateway Toll Road as being safe to increase the speed limit to 110km/h. Now, we're getting on and delivering it. Police will apply the same enforcement to 110km/h roads as any other part of the road network. Drivers can expect to see police patrols on New Zealand roads anywhere, at any time. 'The Northern Gateway Toll Road is a crucial corridor for road users and freight, and well as tourists, and forms an important part of the key strategic route between Auckland and Whangārei, and beyond into Northland. I look forward to the new 110km/h speed limit coming into effect later this month. The new 110km/h speed limit on the Northern Gateway Toll Road comes into effect on Monday 26 May and will apply for 5.5km section of State Highway 1 (SH1) from north of Orewa to south of the Johnstones Hill Tunnels. Note: The speed limit on SH1 through the Johnstones Hill Tunnels will remain 80km/h. While the SH1 Johnstones Hill Tunnels are built to high safety standards, the enclosed environment within a tunnel creates a different safety risk to that of the surrounding motorway. There are no current plans to review or change the speed limit for this section.
RNZ News
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- RNZ News
Speed limit increase on Auckland's Northern Gateway toll road will get people to destination 'quickly and safely'
Transport Minister Chris Bishop says about 1100 vehicles use the toll road each day. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone The government believes raising the speed limit on Auckland's Northern Gateway toll road will allow people and freight to get to their destination quickly and safely. Within a month, motorists will be able to travel at 110km/h on the stretch of State Highway 1 north of the city. Transport Minister Chris Bishop said about 1100 vehicles used the toll road each day, and 9 percent of those were heavy vehicles. "Late last year, the NZ Transport Agency consulted on the proposed speed limit increase to 110km/h. "More than 7900 submissions were received from across Northland and Auckland, with 93 percent in support of the increased speed limit and 91 percent strongly supporting it." He said the road was designed with safety features, such as two lanes in each direction, a barrier for safe passing and it was mostly straight. The new 110km/h speed limit comes into effect on 26 May. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
