Motorists are being urged to slow down – with more than 120 new speed limit signs being placed on Western Bay of Plenty roads during the next two weeks.

Oropi School pupils Sophie Payne, 10, Payton Demden, 7, and Ethan Greer, 11, with principal Andrew King show off the school's new speed limit sign. Photo by Tracy Hardy.

The signs, reducing the speed on many Western Bay roads, are part of Western Bay of Plenty District Council's review of its Speed Limits Bylaw which became law on August 1.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council transportation manager Alex Finn says 121 new signs are being erected on Western Bay roads with 12 existing signs being re-used.

After more than 10 years of submissions, a 50km speed limit past Oropi School has been put in place following approval by the district council.

The 50km sign was erected on Wednesday, and is a sigh of relief for Oropi School principal Andrew King.

'It's definitely had an effect on the traffic driving a lot slower past the school and it even says Oropi Village on it, so there you go.

'It just reduces the concern we've always had with the school frontage and the safety of children at the beginning and end of the day getting in and out of cars.”

The speed limit has been reduced from 70km to 50km on Oropi Rd, from 310m north of Oropi Gorge Rd to 290m south of Gamman Mill Rd.

Since 2001, Oropi School has entered three submissions and fronted council asking for the speed limit to be reduced.

Andrew also requested a footpath to be built opposite the school leading children to the Oropi School Community Hall, where they walk to almost every day for activities.

'That hasn't happened yet but it has been approved, and again that will be another great asset in terms of making it easier to get children to and from the hall.”

Andrew says the council will also be building an island crossing, where children can safely wait before reaching the footpath. Before, children were walking on the side of the road to get to the hall.

'It makes it easier to take large groups down to the community hall and make use of that facility.”

Speed limit changes were undertaken after consultation with the public, police, NZ Transport Agency, NZ Road Transport Association, and the NZ Automobile Association.

Other changes include reducing the speed limit along the stretch of Whakamarama Rd, from 100km to 80km, with a 70km speed limit in place 1km past Whakamarama School.

For more information on the Speed Limits Bylaw, visit the Western Bay of Plenty District Council website.