The road between Milford Sound and Homer Tunnel will retain its current speed limit.
The NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi confirmed yesterday that, after consulting the community, the section of road will retain its 80kmh speed limit.
In January, the Minister of Transport confirmed 38 sections of state highway were subject to speed limit auto-reversal under the Setting of Speed Limits Rule 2024, with a further 49 sections open to community consultation to confirm whether there was public support to retain current lower speed limits.
The NZTA carried out six weeks of public consultation on these 49 sections of state highway and its board considered the consultation results earlier this month.
More than 21,500 people had their say, and based on their feedback, 43 locations will return to their previous higher speed limits, with six remaining at their current lower speed limits, with the Milford Sound road being one of those.
It was not a close contest with 84% of people who submitted wanting to keep the speed at 80kmh and not increase it to 100kmh.
Road users voted 234 to 35 to keep the 80kmh limit. — APL
