Above the Southern Interchange where the Hamilton section splits from Cambridge Road and heads north.

April 2020

It’s been an interesting three months for the Waikato Expressway project. The Huntly section is now finished and open, Longswamp is also open to four lanes with just some minor finishing works to be undertaken, and the remaining section at Hamilton is shut down while New Zealand grapples with COVID-19

Only essential work can be carried out on state highways while the COVID-19 Alert Level 4 remains in place. So while that has seen the Hamilton section site shut down, many of the team there are working remotely to ensure they hit the ground running when work resumes.

Critical state highway maintenance work will continue to be carried out in order to ensure the safe movement of essential goods and to provide support for lifeline functions during New Zealand’s COVID-19 response.

For more expressway information – photos, videos, news – go to the website where you can also sign up for emailed updates. Or like us on Facebook to get progress news.

Preparing for a concrete pour on the deck of the Mangaonua Stream bridge.

Hamilton

The Hamilton project – the biggest of all the sections – has moved past the halfway stage with the focus shifting from earthmoving and drainage to completing bridges and pavement construction.

Up until the recent Level 4 Alert lockdown, the City Edge Alliance team had been making good progress, helped by a very settled summer and a clear plan to have the job finished late next year.

Extra site security is in place for the lock-down period, and  the team will continue to monitor environmental controls and areas under traffic management. Key members of the construction team will continue to work from home on essential activities and project administration. The team will also plan for the rapid restart  of work once staff can return to the site.

Pavement has been a big focus over summer, working from north to south as earthworks and drainage teams wrap up their works, and hand over the pavements team – the people and machines who build the layers of rock for the final surface.

There are 17 bridges on the project with half now complete and others well advanced like at the Mangaonua, Mangaharakeke and Mangaone gullies near the southern end of the project.

At Tamahere – where the project mixes with State Highway 1 traffic – we don’t have any further disruptive changes but there will be further lane movements as we make room for the four-lane highway.

The site may be currently closed down but it remains off-limits to the public. Please keep clear for your safety and that of our staff. Please note the 50km/h speed restriction through the site at Tamahere and drive with care.

You can sign up for monthly updates and the quarterly Project Updates on the website. For the latest one, click here

Our visitor centre out at the site office in Ruakura is closed due to the Alert Level 4 lock-down. Please get in touch by phone or email. Our number is 0800 322 044 and you can email at info@cityedgealliance.co.nz

The Longswamp project has seen SH1 expanded to four lanes between Te Kauwhata and Hampton Downs.

Longswamp

The asphalt surfacing was completed just before the Alert Level 4 lockdown was put in place, and traffic has been on all four lanes at 100km/h since 25 March.

The minor finishing works will now be carried out after the COVID alert eases or is removed.

Longswamp’s “opening” has been  progressive, with traffic moving to all four new lanes before Christmas, then off again while final asphalt works were completed in February-March.

The 5.9km Longswamp project has seen the existing State Highway 1 route widened from 2-3 lanes to four with central and side barriers, and the local road network strengthened.

For further information, including the graphic showing local road connections, go to www.nzta.govt.nz/longswamp

The view from the McVie Road overbridge looking south where the new road climbs Taupiri Range.

Huntly

It was great to get Huntly open to traffic in early March, and the feedback from road users has been very positive.

The 15km route takes SH1 east of Huntly across lowlands  and over the Taupiri Range, saving 10-20 minutes on trips, depending on traffic volumes. With central and side flexible safety barriers it is also much safer.

There are very minor works to do on the Northern Interchange ramps and local roads, and some final long-life roadmarking on the main alignment.

We had a big turnout on the public access day on Saturday 15 February as people came to run, walk, cycle or bus along the new highway.

The previous day saw the blessing, ribbon-cutting and stakeholder event held on the new road.

People are loving the artwork along the route – including maumahara (canoe cenotaphs), pou and a giant hinaki (eel trap). There are also former paa sites to explore. Find out more about all of that in the final project update.

A lot of videos have been added to the website over four years – including the timelapse photography showing the 57m cutting being created at the summit. See that on the website www.nzta.govt.nz/huntly under the videos tab.

More information

For more information on the Waikato Expressway, contact us at waikatoexpressway@nzta.govt.nz

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/waikato-expressway