After consultation with the local community and interested parties, the NZ Transport Agency has confirmed that it will lower the speed limits on a section of State Highway 2.  This area has a history of fatal and serious injury crashes.

Speed limits will reduce from 100km/h to 90km/h along the majority of the 32km stretch of State Highway 2 between the SH1/2 interchange near Pokeno and the SH2/25 intersection near Mangatarata.

The exceptions will be the 6.2km Mangatawhiri Deviation, which will remain at 100km/h, and 1.8km through the Maramarua township where there will be no change to the 70km/h speed limit.  Improvements to signs and pavement markings will be made through the Maramarua township area.

The speed limit changes will come into effect from 16 December 2011 in time for the busy holiday season when traffic volumes on SH2 nearly double to near 24,000 vehicles per day.

NZTA State Highway Manager, Kaye Clark says “We want to see everyone travelling safely on Waikato roads, especially over the holiday season”.

A letter drop along the route will inform the local community of the speed limit change prior to implementation.