Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency will begin consultation this month on a proposal to raise the speed limits for the Kāpiti Expressway to 110km/h.

Consultation on the change, which will increase from the current 100km/h, will begin on April 22 and last four weeks.

Transport Minister Simeon Brown said it was part of the Coalition Government’s agenda to “build the infrastructure needed to grow the economy, reduce travel times and increase the productivity of our transport network”.

“Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and this proposal supports that outcome by reducing travel times and increasing efficiency for travel in and out of Wellington,” he said.

“The Mackays to Peka Peka and Peka Peka to Ōtaki Roads of National Significance (RoNS), which make up the Kāpiti Expressway, were started by the previous National Government and were designed and constructed to a high safety standard. Since these roads opened, no one has died in a crash.

“In addition to the proven safety benefits of removing heavy traffic out of town centres like Paekākāriki, Paraparaumu, Waikanae, and Ōtaki, these RoNS have made regional freight trips more efficient. They’ve also enabled local road users to get to where they need to go more quickly and unlocked new opportunities for housing and urban development.

“I’m pleased to see NZTA is also making good progress on the next phase of this important corridor, from Ōtaki to north of Levin, and I look forward to seeing similar speed limits set once construction is completed in coming years.”