Source: Mental Health Australia
Motorists travelling through Sutton and Gundaroo will soon experience safer journeys, with new 80 km/h speed limits being introduced this month on Sutton Road, Mulligans Flat Road, East Tallagandra Lane and Back Creek Road.
Transport for NSW recently completed a speed zone review in response to concerns raised by the community and Yass Valley Council regarding the existing 100 km/h speed limits.
A speed zone review is a comprehensive process that includes site inspections, analysis of the current road environment and road condition, consideration of crash data and traffic volumes.
A Transport spokesperson said the review of Sutton Road, Mulligans Flat Road, East Tallagandra Lane and Back Creek Road found the existing 100 km/h speed zones did not comply with the NSW speed zoning standard.
A crash analysis of the entire review area revealed a total of 20 crashes, which included two fatalities recorded between 2018 and 2023.
As a result, the speed limit will be reduced to 80 km/h on four key road sections:
a 13-kilometre length of Sutton Road from Sutton Village to the existing 80 km/h zone at Gundaroo; a nine-kilometre length of Mulligans Flat Road from the ACT/NSW border to the Sutton Road intersection; the 5.7-kilometre length of East Tallagandra Lane and the nine-kilometre length of Back Creek Road.
The new speed limit will result in increased travel times of approximately 2 minutes on Sutton Road, 1 minute and 20 seconds on Mulligans Flat Road, 52 seconds on East Tallagandra Lane and one minute and 20 seconds on Back Creek Road.
The speed zone review was carried out to ensure speed limits are in line with the NSW Speed Zoning Standard, applying the Safe System approach.
The Safe System approach has been adopted by all Australian jurisdictions to support road safety outcomes in jurisdictional and national road safety action plans.
“Electronic message signs will be installed before and after the changes come into effect and there will be community notices via council and community groups to advise motorists of the new speed limit,” the spokesperson said.
“Speed limits are set to ensure motorists travel at safe and appropriate speeds for the surrounding road environment, and to allow time for drivers travelling at the limit to detect potential hazards and respond by braking effectively.
“We thank the community for its understanding.”
The new speed zones will be in effect from Monday 8 September 2025, weather permitting.
Motorists are advised to drive to the conditions and follow the directions of signs and traffic control during the installation of signs.
Transport for NSW thanks motorists for their patience during this time.