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Waikato District Council - Te Kaunihera aa Takiwaa o Waikato

Birchwood Lane vehicle speed reduction trial

As part of our commitment to the community in response to the Birchwood Lane vehicle speed reduction trail, we said we’d carry out an independent survey of residents.  This survey is to help Council understand how concerned people are about road safety on Birchwood Lane, and how much support there is for traffic calming measures in the area.  

We know that a separate community-led survey has been completed, and the organisers have reported their findings to the Tamahere Community Committee at their last meeting on the 5 August 2025.  While we’ll consider the results from their survey, the Council’s online survey is the official way to give your feedback. 

The Council survey is now open until the 22 August 2025.   

Complete the survey

Please note: This survey is focused on Birchwood Lane, Tamahere only. If you have any safety concerns about other roads in Tamahere, please raise those separately through our customer service team on 0800 492 452 or speak with your local ward councillor or the Tamahere Community Committee.  

Once we’ve gathered all the feedback and traffic data, we’ll put together a summary report. This will be shared at the Tamahere Community Committee meeting on 2 September 2025 and sent out to residents in the Birchwood Lane area following the meeting.  

FAQs

Monitoring showed that many vehicles were speeding on Birchwood Lane, which is a residential 50km/h road. In fact, 80 percent of vehicles were travelling 20 km/h or more above the speed limit. Some were recorded driving over 100 km/h. This trial is a response to both this data and ongoing community concerns about road safety.  
Waikato District Council installed temporary chicanes (narrowing points) on Birchwood Lane as part of a traffic calming trial. The aim was to reduce speeding on the road. The trial ran until the end of July 2025, and the chicanes were removed at the end of that period. 
The chicanes are designed to slow down traffic by requiring drivers to give way and move around the devices. When used properly, they encourage safer speeds by creating a need for greater attention and caution when travelling along the road.  

Chicanes provide the best reduction in vehicles speeds over the greatest length of road. Using road marking to change traffic direction will slow people down and change driver behaviour rather than speed bumps.   

Speed humps and raised platforms were discounted due to noise issues and difficulty securing funding for any future permanent installation.  Due to the speed that vehicles can pass over them (50km/hr) they are unlikely to have any significant effect on vehicle speeds.  

The trial ran until the end of July 2025. During and after the trial, Council reviews traffic data and collect feedback from the community to help inform any decision about permanent measures.  
Council has kept costs down by using recycled materials from other projects. The estimated cost of the trial is still being confirmed. A project budget of $50,000 has been allocated and may not reflect the actual cost of the trial. Council will clarify costs as more information becomes available.  
No. As this was a trial, the chicanes were installed without formal consultation. Council acknowledged this and committed to engaging with the community throughout the rest of the process. 
Council monitored speed on this road in 2022, using tube counters placed across the road. In addition, several formal complaints have been received about speeding, noisy vehicles, and requests for speed reduction measures. The issue has also been raised with Councillors and staff by local residents.  
Council does not operate speed cameras. The Police have carried out some enforcement activity on Birchwood Lane at Council’s request. However, the volume of traffic on this road is too low for speed cameras to be installed under current national guidelines.  
No. Birchwood Lane is a residential road with a 50 km/h limit, which is consistent with surrounding streets. The road has been designed and built for a 50km/h speed limit and should be used accordingly. Council has reviewed the speed limits in this area twice since 2018, and at no point was a request received to raise the speed limit.  
Other tools, like electronic speed feedback signs and increased police enforcement, were tried but did not result in long-term behaviour change. Speed humps were also considered but were ruled out due to their higher cost and potential for creating noise and vibration issues.  

After the chicanes were removed at the end of July 2025, Council reviewed updated speed data and invited residents to complete an official online survey.  

Feedback and findings are being pulled together and will be shared with the Tamahere Community Committee on 2 September 2025 and with Birchwood Lane residents. This process will help decide whether to remove, adjust, or make the traffic calming measures permanent.  

You can contact Waikato District Council through our customer service team or speak with your local ward councillor or the Tamahere Community Committee.  

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