Dozens of new speed limit signs will soon be going up around the district and motorists – many rural - will have to adjust their familiar habits.

The Central Otago District Council this week approved a package of speed limit adjustments to take place from August 1.

The changes were first signalled in March, with a proposal to change speed limits at more than 80 locations throughout the district as a result of growth and changing road use.

Councillors Stuart Duncan, Tracy Paterson, and Tamah Alley were tasked with reviewing nearly 200 public submissions on the proposed changes, many of which will see reductions in speeds on semi-rural roads around Central Otago towns.

 The trio spent many hours tweaking the changes, including recommending some proposed speed reductions not go ahead. 

Two spots where the current 100km/hr limit was deemed satisfactory and would not, as suggested, drop to 80km/hr were Crawford Hills and Galloway Roads.

The increasingly busy Sandflat and Pearson Roads near Cromwell will also stay at 100km/hr at present following discussions, but further consultation was planned.

In response to feedback, other changes will require further consultation, which is programmed to take place after the coming local body election in October. 

These will include Gilligans Gully and Letts Gully Road, Alexandra, Fruitgrowers Road, Clyde, Lauder Road, Bannockburn Road, Cambrians Road, Clark Road near Lowburn and the St Bathans urban area.

 At the council’s Wednesday (July 6) meeting councillor Stuart Duncan, who is roading chairperson, thanked the community for their engagement.

“When people contact us, we take those views into account,” he said. “We went through every piece of feedback and made adjustments to make sure what we passed today works for our people.”

 New signage will be installed throughout July. Full details of the listed changes will be available on the Central Otago District Council website.