While he supported reducing speeds on the stretch, he questioned how much difference the proposal would make.
“It’s only changing a small amount of the road.”
He said the short 100km/h section between existing lower speed zones was already “confusing”.
“It’s stupid having only a couple of hundred metres of 100km/h anyway.”
Corbishley believed driver behaviour remained the biggest issue.
“It’s already 50km/h here, but people fly through here.”
The 100km/h section of SH50 Korokipo Rd in Fernhill that NZTA is proposing to reduce to 50km/h. Photo / Rafaella Melo
Nearby resident Hannah Finnie, whose family has lived in the area for more than 60 years, also questioned the proposed layout.
“It’s 50 at the moment from Omahu through to Fernhill. No one goes 50 anyway.”
Finnie said she wasn’t worried about pulling out on to the highway because visibility was good, although crashes had happened in the area over the years.
Further proposals in Hawke’s Bay at the moment that NZTA is consulting on include lowering the speed limit on SH50 Links Rd from south of Waiohiki to east of the Pakowhai Rd roundabout from 100km/h to 80km/h.
NZTA also wants to introduce an intersection speed zone on SH2/SH50 in Takapau and is proposing variable speed limits of 60km/h at SH5 Te Hāroto Marae, south of Turangakumu Rd, and Kahurānaki Marae on SH2, north of Colin White Rd, when the signs are activated.
NZTA said its priority was ensuring people could travel “as safely and efficiently as possible”, with all feedback to be considered alongside technical assessments, safety data and cost-benefit analysis before any final decisions are made.
A summary of consultation feedback will be published on the NZTA website after the consultation period, which is open until August 19 at 5pm.
Rafaella Melo has more than 10 years of experience as a journalist in Brazil. She has worn many hats, from radio and TV presenter and producer to magazine editor before joining the Hawke’s Bay Today team as a multimedia journalist.