Speed limit lowers at northern entrance into town
A new speed limit comes into force on Wairakei Drive today – the last speed change to be implemented following the introduction of Taupō District Council’s Speed Limits Bylaw 2018 in December.
Wairakei Drive, from 100m north of Norman Smith Street up Control Gates Hill to 500m north of Huka Falls Road, will be reduced to 50kmh. It had been 80kmh, but has been changed to improve safety ahead of improvements to the northern corridor into town.
Head of operations Kevin Strongman said while all other speed changes under the bylaw were implemented on December 1, this particular section of road was delayed to coincide with the roadworks that will start on Monday.
The northern corridor improvement work will include the installation of traffic signals and other minor changes at the Norman Smith Street and Wairakei Drive intersection, new signage at the northern end of the new 50kmh zone, the implementation of traffic calming measures, minor safety changes to the Poihipi Road and Wairakei Drive intersection and the completion of the widening of the existing path on Control Gates Hill.
The first of the work would be at the northern end and include the Poihipi Road and Wairakei Drive intersection.
“We need to remind drivers to slow down as this work gets underway, as safety is the highest priority,” he said.
Work on the traffic signals and Norman Smith intersection improvements would be the last of the five sections of work to be completed, and is scheduled for late June, weather permitting.