Public Consultation Opens on 110km/h Limits for SH1 Transmission Gully, Raumati Straights

New Zealand's Transport Minister Chris Bishop has launched a six-week public consultation on raising the speed limits on State Highway 1 at Transmission Gully and the Raumati Straights to 110 km/h. The proposal aims to boost economic growth by reducing travel times and increasing efficiency on this key route connecting Wellington with the lower and central North Island. Transmission Gully, opened in 2022, was built to high safety standards and has seen over 150 median barrier strikes but no fatalities, underscoring its safety features like dual lanes and flexible median barriers. The consultation also includes Raumati Straights, which links Transmission Gully to the Kapiti Expressway, already set at 110 km/h, with decisions on speed limits to be finalized ahead of planned safety improvements. This initiative is part of the Coalition Government's broader agenda to enhance infrastructure, promote regional resilience, and improve transport productivity. Similar speed limit adjustments and safety consultations are ongoing internationally, but this discussion specifically focuses on New Zealand's SH1 corridors.