Marlborough District Council will undertake a review of speed limits on local roads across the region in a two-stage process in 2019 and 2020, through its local roads asset management agency Marlborough Roads.

Mayor John Leggett welcomed the decision, made at today’s Council meeting.

“Each year we receive public submissions asking for a particular road’s speed to be lowered. Marlborough Roads had intended to undertake the local roads and state highways review together next year, but the Council asked them to bring the local roads review forward.”

“We are delighted that they have come up with this plan to do so earlier.”

“There will be two stages of public consultation. The first will be later this year and gather the public’s views on road safety issues and speed limits, which will inform the writing of a draft speed bylaw that goes to the Council for adoption in late 2019.”

“Then the formal speed bylaw will be consulted on in early 2020, before a final recommendation is presented to Council.”

It had been hoped that a review could have been undertaken earlier, but changing priorities and the impact of the Kaikoura earthquake in 2016 had caused delays and stretched resources.

The Council will receive a subsidy from the New Zealand Transport Agency to fund the review, which will cover the cost of specialist contractors for GIS analysis, project management and community engagement.

Marlborough District Council is a road controlling authority under the Land Transport Act 1998. Under the Local Government Act, there are statutory requirements for bylaw reviews.

© Scoop Media