The changes will take place from next month on State Highway 73 extending west through the Yaldhurst township.
The existing speed limits were 80km/h and 100km/h, with 70km/h through the township.
"The speed limits on Yaldhurst roads have been the subject of ongoing community calls for reductions, particularly with the significant development in the area which has generated more pedestrian and cycling activity alongside traffic,” said Jim Harland, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency director regional relationships.
He says the technical assessment conducted by NZTA supported reductions to 60km/h through the urban fringe and Yaldhurst town centre with a reduction to 80km/h to the west of the town, while the intervening rural section east of Yaldhurst is to remain at 80km/h.
"The feedback we received provided good support for speed reductions in the area and did not identify any particular further issues that we were not aware of," said Harland.
"Some people did, however, call for lower speeds and to extend the lower speed zones further west of Yaldhurst, which we may consider in the future.
"The increase in traffic and subsequent crashes, along with the commercial development and the many driveways off the highway, means 60 and 80 kilometres per hour limits are safe and appropriate speeds for this area.”
Christchurch City Council consulted on the speed limits for sections of Ryans, Pound, Hasketts and School Rds. The speed limits for these roads are being reduced from 70km/h or 80km/h to 60km/h. Sections of Ryans, Hasketts and School Rds have already been implemented.
The remaining changes on Ryans and Pound Rds will be co-ordinated with changes to SH73.
“Improving the safety of the road network is a critical issue for the council," city council head of transport Richard Osborne said.
"These changes will reduce speeds at approaches to high-risk intersections and maintain consistency of speed limits across the joint road network."
