The South Island’s first 110km/h speed limit will come into force on Sunday, 13 April, on a stretch of the Christchurch Southern Motorway (SH1/76), Transport Minister Chris Bishop has announced.

The new limit will apply to a 17.7-kilometre section of the state highway from east of the Curletts Road interchange in Addington to west of the Weedons Road interchange near Rolleston.

“This is about getting people and freight where they need to go, quickly and safely,” Bishop said. “With up to 38,000 vehicles using the route daily, this change will help improve travel time reliability and reduce congestion.”

The speed limit increase follows public consultation by NZTA late last year, which received nearly 4,000 submissions — with 68 per cent in support.

The Christchurch Southern Motorway was originally developed as part of the previous National Government’s Roads of National Significance programme. It was built to a high safety standard, including two lanes in each direction, flexible median barriers, and improved road alignment with good forward visibility.

Bishop said NZTA had assessed the motorway as being safe for the increased limit, and it would now be delivered.

Associate Transport Minister and Minister for the South Island James Meager said the change was part of a wider plan to improve the region’s transport network.

“This isn’t just about speed limits. We’re progressing major projects like the SH1 Rolleston Access Improvements, the Brougham Street upgrades, and the second Ashburton Bridge,” Meager said.

“These improvements, along with the new higher speed limit, will create a safer, more efficient state highway for the rapidly growing southern Christchurch area.”

He also confirmed a broader study is planned into the future of the wider state highway corridor between Lyttelton Port and Timaru, including potential bridge replacements and four-laning. That work is expected to begin later in the current 2024–27 National Land Transport Programme.