Speed Review - State Highway 8 through Tekapo

26 August 2021

The speed limits follow a public engagement process where Waka Kotahi discussed with iwi, the community, the council, local police, AA and local businesses about speed limits and ways to make SH8 through Tekapo safer.

In the ten-year period between 2011 and 2020, there were 41 crashes on SH8 in Tekapo – of these five people were seriously injured, and four people incurred minor injuries.

An earlier engagement raised concerns of the speed limit through Tekapo being too high, particularly in built up areas where there is an increase in traffic – including campers, caravans, pedestrians, and cyclists.

Previous feedback for further safety improvements on SH8 has been included within the recommendations for the proposal.

Feedback is now being welcomed.

Public Online Zoom Meeting – Monday 30 August

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is holding an online Zoom Meeting for discussions, and feedback of the proposed changes, from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm.

Online Zoom Meeting link.

Have your say

Make a submission online here.

Feedback is due by Friday, 10 September 2021.

SH8 Tekapo proposed speed changes

The main changes proposed are the dropping of the speed limit to 50km/h, and the addition of an 80km/h zone west of Tekapo.

Site	Existing	Proposed
From 152m southeast of Lilybank Road to 31m east of Greig Street	80 km/h	No change 80km/h
From 31m east of Greig Street to 170m west of Lakeside Drive	60 km/h	50 km/h
From 170m west of Lakeside Drive, to 84m west of Tekapo Powerhouse Road	100 km/h	80 km/h

Further safety improvements proposed for Tekapo include:

• A new right turn bay into Lakeside Drive.
• Extending the existing right turn bay into Rapuwai Lane.
• A new pedestrian refuge (central crossing island) opposite Tekapo Adventures.
• A new right turn bay into the Challenge Service Station.
• Extend the existing right turn bay into Domain Road.
• A new pedestrian refuge (central crossing island) and kerb buildout on the south side of the road opposite the school bus stop near Greig Street.
• A new pedestrian refuge (central crossing island) and kerb buildouts on both sides of the road opposite the look out and parking area (midway between Pioneer Drive and Hamilton Drive).
• A new right turn bay into Hamilton Drive.
• As part of these improvements, three new streetlights will be added to complement the pedestrian refuges and upgrading five streetlights. All lighting will be designed to operate in accordance with the Dark Sky criteria for Tekapo.

For more information

• SH8 at Tekapo - Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency website.
• Speed Review Programme webpage
• New Zealand’s Road Safety Strategy