Reduced speed limit proposed for central Te Anau

Southland District Council is proposing to reduce the speed limit in the Te Anaucentral business district to 30 km/hr to improve road user safety.

Currently the speed limit in the area is 50 km/hr.

Roading Engineer Rochelle Leach said that after undertaking a speed limit survey Council had decided to move ahead with the recommendation to improve the safety ofpedestrians, cyclists and others and reflect a safer operating speed and to allow forfuture development and growth within the township.

In July a survey was carried out on roads in the area including:

Wong Way; Village Place; The Lane; Milford Crescent; Town Centre; Miro Street; Little Park Lane and part of Lakefront Drive and Te Anau Terrace.

“The proposed 30 km/hr limit mirrors the current speed that the vast majority of people are driving to in the area and is designed to reinforce that”, she said.

Following yesterday’s (subs Wednesday September 12) decision Council will request approval from the Director of Land Transport New Zealand (LTNZ) to proceed with the speed limit change.

Along with a number of other proposed speed limit changes in the District if approvedby LTNZ it will go out to public consultation and require Council to pass a new by-law.

Rochelle Leach said that it is hoped that the new speed restrictions can be in place before the end of the year.