Pursuant to clause 6.1 of Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2003 and a delegation from the NZ Transport Agency, I, Glenn Bunting, Network Manager, approve variable speed limits on State Highway 29, over the Kaimai Range, in accordance with the conditions set out in this notice.

Conditions

1. Variable Speed Limit

The NZ Transport Agency may set a variable speed limit of 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 or 80km/h on the section of State Highway 29 described in condition 2 of this notice. The speed limit may be varied to manage the safety of road users and the efficient flow of traffic due to weather conditions, in emergency circumstances or during road works.

2. Section of State Highway

A variable speed limit may be set on the section of State Highway 29 from 1000 metres west of the intersection with Soldiers Road, on the eastern side of the Kaimai Range, to 1360 metres east of the intersection with State Highway 28 (Rapurapu Road), on the western side of the Kaimai Range.

3. Signs

Variable speed limit signs that comply with Land Transport Rule: Traffic Control Devices 2004 must be installed to notify road users that a section of road is subject to a variable speed limit as follows:

(a) Two “Variable speed” (R1-2.1) signs at each end of the section of State Highway 29 described in condition 2 of this notice, facing road users travelling towards the variable speed limit;

(b) four “Variable speed” (R1-2.1) signs at the summit of the Kaimai Range on State Highway 29, approximately 920 metres west of Hanga Road, with two signs facing road users travelling in each direction;

(c) two “Standard” (R1-1) or “100 km/h” (R1-1.1) speed limit signs at each end of the section of State Highway 29 described in condition 2, facing road users leaving the variable speed limit, to notify them of the permanent speed limit beyond that point;

(d) at least one “Variable speed” (R1-2.1) repeater sign at each location, installed with a spacing of no more than 2.6km between repeater signs, on the section of State Highway 29 east of the summit (from 1000 metres west of Soldiers Road to 920 metres west of Hanga Road); and

(e) at least one “Variable speed” (R1-2.1) repeater sign at each location, installed with a spacing of no more than 2.0km between repeater signs, on the section of State Highway 29 west of the summit (from 920 metres west of Hanga Road to 1360 metres east of the intersection with State Highway 28 (Rapurapu Road)).

4. Speed Limit Displayed on Signs

The variable speed limit that applies to a section of road at any time must be displayed on the variable speed limit signs within that section of road. A different speed limit may apply to the section of road between any two signs. When the permanent speed limit for the road applies, the variable speed limit signs may display the permanent limit or may be blank.

5. Recording changes of Speed Limit

Records must be kept to show the actual speed limit applied to any particular section of road at any time. The records must be available for public inspection and include the time the speed limit changed, the date, the speed limit and a description of the beginning and end points of the section of road to which the speed limit applied.

6. Bylaw

The NZ Transport Agency must set the variable speed limit by making a bylaw in accordance with Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2003.

Signed at Wellington this 12th day of May 2015.

GLENN BUNTING, Network Manager.