Speed review outcomes for SH6 Marybank and SH6 Wakefield North
Between April and May 2025, we consulted on speed limits for two sections of urban connectors on SH6 in Nelson and Tasman.
We've now assessed the outcomes of the SH6 Marybank and Wakefield North speed reviews, which were initiated after strong community feedback that people did not wish these locations to revert to higher speed limits.
Under the Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2024 (the Rule), specified sections of state highway, categorised as urban connectors with lowered speed limits, are required to automatically reverse to their higher speed limit by 1 July 2025.
After considering all the safety, technical, cost and consultation information, we can advise that both speed limits on the SH6 Marybank section and SH6 Wakefield North section will be re-confirmed to 60km/h.
For SH6 Marybank, the feedback we received showed strong support for re-setting to the lower speed limit, with 76% of submitters advising that re-setting the speed limit to 60km/h had positive impacts. The feedback showed a community desire to keep children safe on the road, especially when they are traveling by foot or bike to and from school. Many residents also felt that a lower speed limit of 60km/h made it safer and easier for them to enter or cross over the state highway. Our safety and technical data aligned with these views.
For SH6 Wakefield North, we received mixed feedback, with 49% of submitters advising that re-setting the speed limit to 60km/h had positive impacts. Some people living on the road finding that the lower speed limit of 60km/h, makes it easier to cross the road by foot or get in and out of side roads via their vehicles. Our safety and technical data aligned with these views. This section of road has houses on both sides of the road and the road changes from rural to more residential with driveways accessing the state highway. There are side hazards that are better mitigated by a 60km/h speed limit, including intersection turning movements. There are also no flush medians or turning bays on the road, which means drivers and cyclists need to wait in the middle of the road to turn into side roads or driveways.
A full consultation summary for both sections of state highway is available at speed review outcome for Top of the South Island.
We thank everyone for their feedback and patience while we completed the speed review process.
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