NZTA wants lower SH6 speed limit

The NZ Transport Agency is looking to permanently lower the speed limit on a section of State Highway 6 east of Queenstown, between Stalker Rd and Hardware Lane, formerly known as Glenda Dr.

NZTA is seeking feedback on lowering the speed limit along the 2.3km section from 100kmh to 80kmh, including the Tucker Beach Rd intersection.

NZTA southern business unit manager Ian Duncan said figures for that section between 2011 and 2016 showed 18 reported crashes, resulting in three serious and 13 minor injuries.

Mr Duncan said given a ``sharp rise'' in development in the area in recent years, including the Shotover Country subdivision, more traffic had been generated, resulting in a corresponding increase in crashes.

The community had also raised concerns about the safety of the Tucker Beach Rd intersection, along with the impact of rapidly increasing traffic volumes along that stretch of road.

``Lowering the speed limit through this area is part of the Transport Agency's ongoing commitment to creating safer journeys by reducing the numbers of death and serious injuries on roads through the Safe System approach,'' Mr Duncan said.

``It recognises that people make mistakes and are vulnerable in a crash, and aims to reduce the price paid for a mistake so crashes don't result in death or serious injuries.

``This includes building safer roads and encouraging people to drive their vehicles at safe speeds.''

While all NZTA's road safety partners had agreed in principle to the proposed change, the agency was also seeking community feedback.

Submissions could either be posted to NZTA or emailed to SpeedLimitOtgoSthlnd@ nzta.govt.nz by March 28.