TEL speed limit to increase to 110km/h

Motorists will be able to travel at 110km/h on the Tauranga Eastern Link by the end the year.

The Tauranga Eastern Link is one of two highways motorists will be able to do 110km/h on.

In an announcement made today, Associate Transport Minister Tim Macindoe says faster speed limits will initially be rolled out to the Tauranga Eastern Link, and parts of the Waikato Expressway.

'The Government has invested heavily in our roads, with a focus on making them safer and cutting travel times for motorists and freight.

'With our initial seven Roads of National Significance – with enhanced safety features – either complete or under construction, we can begin rolling out faster speed limits in certain areas.”

Other roads currently under construction, such as the Kapiti Expressway and the southern section of the Christchurch Motorway (once the second stage is completed) will be considered in future.

'Our investment in the national roading network means we are already significantly improving travel times while also ensuring our roads are safer, and the new speed limit will build on that,” says Tim.

'This will allow New Zealanders to get to where they need to be faster.”

The faster 110km/h speed limit will only apply to stretches of roads built to a standard where the higher speed limit is both safe and appropriate.

This includes having at least two lanes in each direction, a median barrier, no significant curves and no direct access to neighbouring properties, says Tim.

'Our new Roads of National Significance are our safest roads – with no fatalities to date. This change strikes the right balance between ensuring the safety of road users and faster travel times for our motorists and freight.

'The Government is committed to providing the infrastructure New Zealand needs as a growing country, and that's why we're spending over $30 billion over the next four years on schools, hospitals, roads and other public infrastructure.”

The 110km/h speed limit will be in effect on roads that already meet the criteria before the end of the year.

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16 comments

Is...

Posted on 24-08-2017 11:22 | By penguin

...the new speed only for cars? What of heavy vehicles and buses etc?


Why?

Posted on 24-08-2017 11:28 | By Seriously?

Why do people have to get to where they're going faster? Do they not have enough time in their lives to get from A to B safely? Ask the emergency services how much difference to a life or death outcome does an extra 10kph make.


speed

Posted on 24-08-2017 12:30 | By dumbkof2

ok so now motorists will be doping 120 to 130. no tollerance at all for exceding 110. immediate loss of licence for 30 days


good idea

Posted on 24-08-2017 12:34 | By Hunterway

Great to see the rules catching up with what the public is already doing. Grand stretch of road .Pitty you have to come off it and bounce your way to whakatane though.Does this mean I can tow my boat along it at 100K nowl?


What's New!!

Posted on 24-08-2017 13:45 | By Road Ranger

As a regular user of the TEL it amazes me that a large number of motorists are doing well over this speed since it opened. Even cars towing trailers and some trucks. Once this 110 kmph speed limit is legal no doubt we will see these "idiots" increase their speed even more. I hope the Police will be more pro-active in the future to slow these speedsters down. A few weeks ago I had my cruise control set at 100 kmph and was overtaken by a car towing a rental trailer with bedding on it (unsecured) with a Police car parked on the side of the road - nothing was done - even when I tooted at him to alert him to the danger. Police need to be more visible on this "race track". . . . . .


Sensible move.

Posted on 24-08-2017 15:59 | By space cadet

A good idea and not the first time we have had variable speed limits according to road status and area. Why, if road quality and conditions permit should we not be able to travel at a greater speed? If our quality of driver is so poor that they cannot manage driving on a good highway in a modern car then it says more about the level of driving skill of that individual than arbitrarily enforcing a speed limit on everyone else. To make driving at speed safe all considerate and skilled drivers should be constantly aware of their speed in relation to the traffic around them. It is the differences in speed i.e. excessively fast or excessively slow that cause the problems and frustrations.


Spacing

Posted on 24-08-2017 16:01 | By Papamoaner

It will be interesting to see if all those those domino drongos driving at half second spacing back off a bit now.


Penguin....

Posted on 24-08-2017 16:27 | By groutby

....I would say the maximum limit for trailers/buses etc unless changed by law is the same as current restrictions, unless changed when the announcement is made as to the date of the new speed limit. Others seem to be howling and seeing problems already before they have happened...the road is perfectly safe for responsible drivers at 110km/ph or even beyond, of course the pillocks out there will be exactly that, but they would be at 80 or 20km even, we need to hope that enforcement will be discreet but out there, but they are very stretched on resource without doubt, perhaps the impending election will promise more staffing for authorities...


110kmh

Posted on 24-08-2017 17:17 | By Kenworthlogger

Glad to see common sense has prevailed.


To by penguin

Posted on 24-08-2017 17:19 | By old trucker

Nearly all trucks are now speed limited to 90, so please dont target these, ive driven here and overseas and QLD is 110 as well for trucks and cars and can set cruise control on truck at 105 kmph and go 200 km no problem before letting it off . my thoughts only on this, i was going to say something else, but would put a cat among the peguins, Thanks for being No1 in News Sunlive,Thankyou, 10-4 out.phew.


Finally...

Posted on 24-08-2017 18:57 | By Geeb

Common sense - drive to the conditions they say - now we will be able too!


Very sensible lawmaking

Posted on 24-08-2017 20:19 | By mutley

These new roads are well and truly up to this speed. If such a road was in Europe the speed limit would be 130 km/h or perhaps more and the Police would be way more interested in keeping the traffic flowing than pedantic speed metering. If the flat earth society, and some have already commented, want to drive slower then they are welcome to use the left hand lane. Well done the Government.


speed

Posted on 25-08-2017 09:09 | By dumbkof2

so if you can travel all the time at 110 after 100 ks you will save 10 min.. is it really worthwile with all the extra stress. fuel. wear and tare etc just to save 10 min. somethow i dont think so


Good news

Posted on 25-08-2017 09:16 | By Border Patrol

This is a great road and very safe for 110km/h. Now if they could police the large number of idiots who sit out in the right hand lane...strike it pretty regularly where cars are forced to undertake as they will not move over. I can't recall kept left signage along the TEL, perhaps this also needs to be looked into?


TEL 110 limit

Posted on 25-08-2017 10:25 | By ianhnz

Can't understand why the Bayfair to Domain Rd is not part of this.Does anyone know????


@ ianhnz...

Posted on 27-08-2017 10:11 | By groutby

...as I understand it, it is decided that the new limits will only be allowed on roads of a certain construction..ie: safety barriers in the centre etc, in the case of the stretch of road you are referring to, it has on/off ramps along it which is to be excluded, and that is maybe why only part of the Waikato Expressway will be included. Please correct me if I am wrong here..........


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