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SH1 Cambridge to Piarere

Project update

24 February 2025



	Traffic will be switched onto the SH1, Hamilton approach road (pictured to the left of the current SH1) this week. All roads lead to the new Piarere roundabout Road users can look forward to a more complete roundabout experience in Piarere, with the final permanent approach road towards Hamilton set to open. Traffic is planned to be switched onto the new approach tomorrow, Tuesday 25 February (weather permitting). This follows the other 2 approach roads (SH1 from Tīrau, and SH29) which opened to traffic in December 2024. No road closures or stop/go are needed for the switch onto the new approach road; however, motorists should prepare for minor delays in the area. The roundabout will be reduced to a single lane with traffic switched over 1 direction at a time, starting with the northbound lane first and the southbound lane by late afternoon. The project is on track to be completed in late-2025, but there is still work to be done. Work will continue on the central median and barriers on the Hamilton approach, before the focus shifts to the installation of a centre sculpture, landscaping and planting. Prior to the switch, line marking will be undertaken under stop/go overnight from 8pm Monday 24 February until 4am Tuesday morning. Motorists should expect delays of around 10 minutes during this time. We thank motorists for their patience and ask drivers to stick to temporary speed limits and take extra care when travelling through the area while people adjust to the new layout.   More information.



	Cambridge to Piarere is a 16km long 4-lane expressway extending from the southern end of the Waikato Expressway and connecting to the new SH1/SH29 roundabout at Piarere. C2P expressway consenting update As the SH1 Cambridge to Piarere (C2P) expressway project is a Road of National Significance, we are accelerating work on this project to deliver an expressway as a priority. Part of this is the consenting process. In December we lodged Notice of Requirements and resource consent applications with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Natural and Built Environment Act (NBEA). While the NBEA has since been replaced by the new Fast-track Approvals Act, we are continuing to use this process as this allows us to proceed now. The Chief Environment Court Judge, assisted by the EPA, has now appointed an expert consenting panel. The panel has 20 working days to invite submissions from a list of specific people or groups identified in the Repeal Act. This includes the relevant local authorities and the owners and occupiers of land where the project is, and of the adjacent land. It also includes any other person or group that the panel considers relevant. Unlike a traditional RMA process, under the NBEA Act there is a defined list of people and organisations who can make a submission on an application. Invited persons can lodge submissions – within 20 working days of being invited to do so. The panel decides whether to hold a hearing – but there is no requirement to do so. Once submissions close the panel has, if no hearing is held, 60 working days to make its decision. If a hearing is held a decision must be made within 90 working days. Overall, we estimate that this process will take 6 to 8 months. We’ll continue to provide regular updates through this newsletter and on our C2P webpage as we have further information. Progress on the consenting process is available on the EPA website.


	What else is happening with the expressway? While the consenting process is underway, we are also working on other parts of the project. We’re continuing with permit and archaeological authority applications, getting on with detailed design and property acquisition and undertaking a tolling assessment. In December we lodged an application for a Wildlife Permit with the Department of Conservation. We will also be lodging applications for archaeological authorities with Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga as assessments become available. Detailed design is how we finalise specific elements of the expressway. We look more deeply at the topography, geology and geotechnical aspects of the land, and how to design the earthworks, pavement layers, bridges, structures (such as culverts, retaining walls), stormwater and drainage. Adding to this mix we are planning for underground services and ensuring environmental effects are eliminated or minimised. Across all this we also consider how people will interact with and use the expressway and surrounding environment. As we work through this process, we are undertaking further site investigations. You may see our drilling rigs out and about but we’ll also be using more low-key equipment to complete this work. Some of these surveys will be carried out on private property, and we work with landowners to get their permission. As stated in the Government Policy Statement on land transport (GPS 2024), there is an expectation for NZTA to consider tolling to support the construction and maintenance of all new roads, including this project. We will share more details as we make progress. You can keep up to date with our work on the expressway by signing up to our email newsletter. Visit our website to sign up, and to find out more about the project: You can also check out the animated fly through below, which provides an artists interpretation of what the expressway will look like.



	New electronic safety message signs installed near the intersection of SH1 and Karāpiro Road. Karāpiro Road intersection As you drive past or through the intersection of SH1 and Karāpiro Road you may notice some new signs and line marking (not pictured). These are in place to remind drivers about the intersection ahead. You will also see permanent electronic signs installed to display safety messages. These safety messages will help to remind drivers of the importance of being vigilant around this intersection. SH1 between the Cambridge section of the Waikato Expressway and the intersection at SH1/SH29 at Piarere has seen a programme of safety improvements that began in 2020 and was completed in 2024, aimed at reducing deaths and serious injuries on this stretch of road by widening the road, wider centre lines, installing turnaround bays and median barriers, and other safety treatments. In addition to this funded programme of safety works, from 2022 we investigated the possibility of installing a roundabout to replace the T-intersection, which would have been an interim step until the new interchange as a part Cambridge to Piarere expressway project began. With construction on the interchange expected to begin in mid-2026, the roundabout wasn’t prioritised for funding via the current 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme. In the meantime, we’ve taken steps to upgrade the signage and markings to ensure drivers on this busy stretch of state highway and Karāpiro Road are reminded to take care.

SH29, Te Poi road closure

SH29 at Te Poi (near Matamata) will be closed 24/7 for 3 weeks for road rebuilding.

From Monday 10 March until Sunday 23 March the road will be closed between Te Poi Road and Stopford Road.

Traffic (light vehicles) will be detoured via SH24 or Te Poi Road adding around 5 minutes to journeys along SH29. Heavy vehicles will be detoured via SH24, SH27 and SH28 adding around 15 minutes.

Closing the road means the work will be completed quicker and safer than if stop/go was in place.

Access to properties and businesses with the closure zone will be maintained during the closure, however there may be delays entering and exiting the closure site, depending on the work being carried out at the time.

The work is scheduled to be completed by Sunday 23 March; however, this may be impacted by bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

We thank road users and especially the local community for their patience while we complete this work.

Elsewhere on SH29...

• SH29 Tauriko Enabling Works: Construction is ongoing at multiple sites on SH29 between Redwood Lane and Cambridge Road. Shoulder closures, reduced speed limits and mobile operations are in place. More information.

• SH29 Ōmanawa Bridge: From Monday 3 March to Thursday 6 March, 6pm to 6am each night, a temporary 50km/h speed limit and lane shifts will be in place. This work is to undertake further geo-tech investigations between the Ōmanawa Bridge and the Ōmanawa Road intersection.

• SH29 Kaimai Range: The Kaimai Range will be closed overnight from Sunday 2 to Thursday 6 March (4.30am) from 8pm to 4.30am to allow road resurfacing and maintenance to take place. The closure points on the western side of the Kaimai Range are at the SH29/SH24 and SH29/SH28 intersections and on the eastern side of the Kaimai Range at the SH29/Cambridge Road intersection. Detours are available for all vehicles southbound via Rotorua and northbound via SH2 Karangahake Gorge. Emergency services will have access at all times, residents can access their property from the relevant side of the closure.



	Work to replace the Mangatoetoenui Bridge deck on SH1, Desert Road. SH1 Tīrau to Waiouru accelerated maintenance project There’s been a lot happening on the Tīrau to Waiouru accelerated maintenance project (T2W) since it kicked off in August 2024. Here’s a snapshot of some of the highlights from the past few months. To keep up to date with all the excitement and latest information sign up to the T2W newsletter: nzta.govt.nz/t2w Tīrau to Putāruru is looking great In mid-February 2025, we completed the first full section on SH1 between Tīrau and Putāruru. This section of SH1, from the SH1/SH5 roundabout near Tīrau, to the SH1/SH28 intersection near Putāruru, first closed from Monday 9 September 2024 for 4 weeks (reopening 4 October). Multiple crews of roadworkers worked in shifts to get the job done as quickly as possible. The first road rebuild happened just north of the intersection between Webster Road / Taumangi Road / SH1. The other rebuild was just south of Webster Road. There was a total of 5.75 lane kms of road completely rebuilt. Check out the video of the crew working at night to get the final surfacing done. This really showcases the benefit of doing this work with a full closure. Working across the entire road means we can get in and out quickly. Tūrangi to Waiouru (including the Desert Road) Further south, work is progressing really well on the section between Tūrangi and Waiouru, including the 8 week closure of Desert Road. This section will reopen in mid-March 2025. While the crew is in there repairing and upgrade SH1, we are making the most of the closure and by taking the opportunity to replace the deck of the Mangatoetoenui Bridge. To get the sections of the new deck in (each weighing 62 tonnes), we had to use New Zealand’s largest mobile crane. Weighing in at 600-tonnes, the 16-wheeled crane, dubbed ‘Monster Crane’ by the crew, had to be hauled in using 5 trucks! The Desert Road, which is New Zealand’s highest part of the state highway network, has been providing some amazing photo opportunities, including these amazing shots below of the Mangatoetoenui Bridge. Upcoming closures The next 2 closures kick off on Monday 3 March, between Putāruru and Lichfield, and Ātiamuri to Wairakei. If you live, work or travel through these areas, make sure you check out the latest information by going to nzta.govt.nz/t2w.