SH1 Cambridge to Piarere

Project update

8 November 2024

The new roundabout in Piarere opened to traffic in September with 2 temporary approach roads in action.

Roundabout open to traffic

It's been a little over a month since we opened the new roundabout at the intersection of State Highways 1 and 29 in Piarere, replacing the high-risk T-intersection.

Check out this video for some behind the scenes of the work onsite, and some awesome aerial views of the roundabout in action.

We still have some work to do before the roundabout is finished, but already it's a significant step toward improved efficiency, connectivity, and safety on this important high-volume route.

At the moment the roundabout includes a temporary tie-in road for SH1 on the Tīrau side – it'll be like this until December 2024 while we continue to work on the permanent SH1 approach from Tīrau.

As the roundabout is still a worksite – please follow the signage and take care as you're travelling through. We started construction in January 2024, and we're on track to finish it in mid-late 2025. More information.

Kaumatua blessed the site and representatives from Ngaati Koroki Kahukura and Ngaati Haua, along with project team members acknowledged the cultural, spiritual and physical health of the wai (water), whenua (land) and tangata (people) before work began.

Blessing ahead of water testing for C2P

Water testing for the SH1 Cambridge to Piarere (C2P) expressway project began last month at the Moana Roa Reserve just off SH1.

We've commissioned 2 wells to be installed in the Waipā District Council reserve to test if drawing water through soil will naturally filter out invasive clam larvae.

Lake Karāpiro is expected to be a source of water for the project, as it is close by and the most cost-effective source. However, in May 2023 an invasive exotic freshwater clam was discovered in the Waikato River, near where the water would be sourced from. The clams, or water that may contain them, are not allowed to be moved.

We're testing to see if drawing water through soil will naturally filter out invasive clam larvae. The testing will also confirm if the aquifer (a layer of underground rock or sediment that stores and allows groundwater to flow through) can provide the volume of water needed for construction, which is expected to be up to 2100 cubic metres a day. If the test is successful, a resource consent application will be lodged. 

Read more on the project here.

While consent work continues on C2P, geotechnical testing is underway, including collecting core samples of the soil as pictured.

What’s happening with the C2P expressway consents process?

C2P is part of the government’s Roads of National Significance (RoNS), confirmed in the Government Policy Statement on land transport 2024 (GPS 2024).

RoNS are strategic corridors that will support economic growth, improve safety and build greater resilience into the roading network. 

As a RoNS, we’re committed to delivering this critical piece of infrastructure that will get people and freight to where they want to go, quickly and safely.

In July, before the Fast-track Approvals Bill timeframes were confirmed, we applied for referral under the Resource Management (Natural and Built Environment and Spatial Planning Repeal and Interim Fast-track Consenting) Act 2023 (the Repeal Act). The Repeal Act provides a fast-track consenting process for some infrastructure projects, including roading, and is quicker than the standard Resource Management Act (RMA) process.

To date our referral application is joint with Transpower as they will need to relocate services, including some overhead power lines. 

On Monday 4 November, we were advised the Minister for the Environment approved our referral application to use this Act. You can find information about our application on the Environmental Protection Authority website.

Referral application for State Highway 1 Cambridge to Piarere

The Repeal Act is intended to be replaced by the new fast track pathway under the proposed Fast-track Approvals Bill. While the C2P project has been listed under the Fast-track Approvals Bill, applying to use the Repeal Act allows us to progress now.

The Bill is expected to go before Parliament for its second reading this month and be passed into law before the end of the year.

A decision will be made soon on whether the Repeal Act or the Fast-track Approvals Bill is the preferred fast track consenting pathway for the C2P project.

During this time, we are progressing our consenting documentation.

Find out more about this project at nzta.govt.nz/c2p

SH1 Tīrau to Waiouru accelerated maintenance project

Since the Tīrau to Waiouru accelerated maintenance project kicked off in early September, we've had many parts of SH1 closed and reopened successfuly, with lots of road rebuilding completed.

Current work underway and planned on SH1 includes:

Piarere to north of Tīrau township: Complete.

Urban Tīrau: Scheduled for spring 2025 and will be done at night.

SH5 Tīrau to SH28 Putāruru: First closure was 9 September - 4 October. The final asphalt surfacing will be completed under night-time road closures from 24 November - 5 December (Sunday to Thursday nights, 7pm – 6am). Traffic detoured via SH5/SH28.

SH28 Putāruru to SH32 Tokoroa: Subject to Tokoroa to upper Ātiamuri finishing on time, starts 21 November to 20 December. Detour (see map below) uses local roads and SH32 adding approximately 15 mins and 11km to journey times. HPMV detour via SH5 and SH30. The "hard closure" (the worksite) is approximately 13km long, from Vospers Road to Rollett Road. There will be a “soft closure” in Putāruru, between SH1/Princes Street intersection and Vospers Road, Lichfield. There is also a soft closure at the southern end, up to Rollett Road. These soft closures still allow access, but are in place in order to send those on longer journeys down appropriate detours. Southbound traffic will not be able to travel beyond Vospers/Ngatira Road. Northbound traffic will only be able to travel as far north as SH1 Rollett Road. Within the hard closure, there will be strict requirements before anyone can go into that area as there will be a multitude of machines and people working on the road at all times of the day and night. If you need access to a residential property or business, please contact the project team.

SH32 Tokoroa to SH30 Ātiamuri: Started 7 October, expected to reopen 20 November. Final asphalt surfacing will be completed under night-time road closures in early 2025, timing TBC.

SH30 Ātiamuri to SH5 Wairakei: Daytime closures complete, still under traffic management until early December. The second closure to repair the southern end of this zone is now scheduled for spring 2025.

East Taupō Arterial: Closed 11 November to 6 December between Wairakei roundabout and Broadlands Road.

Taupō Airport roundabout to Tūrangi: This has now been rescheduled from March/April 2025 to spring 2025 due to the busy holiday activities in the area.

SH46 Desert Road: Scheduled early January 2025 to late February 2025. Further details will be available shortly.

Drop-in Session: On Thursday 14 November the project team is hosting a community drop-in sessions at The Plaza in Putāruru. There are 2 sessions, from 1pm - 3pm and 4.30pm - 6.30pm. Members of the project team will be available to answer any questions you have about the work being done, and upcoming closures. This isn’t a town hall style session with presentations or speeches – just a chance to pop in and talk to some of the team. The project team is also organising some on-line webinar sessions, details will be available shortly.

If you want to keep up with information on these closures, sign up to the e-newsletter on the project website.

This work forms part of the government’s $2.07 billion investment into road and drainage renewal and maintenance across 2024-27 via the State Highway Pothole Prevention fund.

Meanwhile, on the Bay of Plenty side of SH29

SH29 is also a key focus as part of our summer maintenance programme.

Between now and May 2025 there are 9 significant sites on the Bay of Plenty side of the Kaimai Range where we will be rebuilding and resurfacing the road. Most of the works will be carried out overnight.

Contractors got underway on Sunday 20 October with a road rebuild near Hanga Road (expected to be completed mid-November), followed by resurfacing work between Gargan Road and Redwood Lane (completed). The next site to get underway is near Old Kaimai Road, starting late November. There is also the works at the SH29/Redwood Lane intersection and Tauriko Village for the Tauriko Enabling Works project.

Once complete, drivers will have smoother and safer journeys along this section of the SH29 corridor.

This work is also part of the government’s $2.07 billion investment into road and drainage renewal and maintenance across 2024-27 via the State Highway Pothole Prevention fund.

More information.

More information

For more information on the SH1 Cambridge to Piarere, contact us at c2p@nzta.govt.nz

Visit our website nzta.govt.nz/c2p