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Update on Projects on SH1

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SH1 / 29 intersection - photo from 2017

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SH1/29 roundabout submissions closed

Thank you to those people who made a submission on our resource consent and change of notification applications.

There is considerable support for proposed safety improvements to the intersection of State Highways 1 and 29 at Piarere. Most submissions received during the process for the resource management applications were in favour of the changes.

Submissions came from individuals and landowners, government organisations, transport industry groups and local organisations.

Jo Wilton, the Regional Manager Infrastructure Delivery Waikato/Bay of Plenty for Waka Kotahi was pleased with the support shown. “18 submissions were received, with the majority supporting the proposal to construct a roundabout to make the intersection safer.

“There were some submissions that raised technical considerations around the design. Others wanted reassurance that good design processes to cater for larger vehicles would be followed, and we will respond to these submissions.

“The intersection improvements will help people get where they are going safely when traveling on a high-volume traffic route. This is one of New Zealand’s critical transport corridors, but the SH1/SH29 intersection is among the most dangerous on our roading network,” she said.

The Councils involved - Waikato Regional Council, Matamata-Piako District Council and South Waikato District Council - have granted Waka Kotahi’s request for the applications to go directly to the Environment Court.

The Councils’ Reporting Planner has prepared a report for the Environment Court. This report addresses any relevant RMA issues, suggests conditions that should be imposed if the Environment Court confirms the application and provides a summary of submissions.

The Councils’ report has been provided to Waka Kotahi and those who made a submission.  All parties will then have the chance to decide if they want to be heard at the Environment Court.

The process before the hearing at the Environment Court can include pre-hearing conferences, expert witness conferencing and mediation to try and resolve or narrow issues. At this point, it is expected that the hearing will be in mid-2022.

The Government’s New Zealand Upgrade Programme is funding the safety upgrade of the SH1 and SH29 intersection at Piarere. The $8.7 billion investment will provide growing communities across the country with better travel choices that help people get where they’re going safely.

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Road works ahead; Combining maintenance & safety work

Maintenance work and safety improvements work will be starting on 19 April on SH1 near Maungatautari Road. Getting the work done concurrently will reduce the disruption to road users and neighbours.

From 19 to 21 April overnight (between 9pm – 6am) the road will be under stop/go traffic management with associated lane closures in place. Then from 26 to 28 April, the road will be closed between 9am and 3pm with a detour via Karapiro Road, Taotaoroa Road and SH29.

Work is subject to weather and resource availability. There will be surfacing work undertaken and tree-felling will also take place to remove trees that pose a risk to road users should they fall.

At the same time there will also be changes made to the road layout to improve safety by installing 1.6km of flexible median barriers. This is the start of the next phase of an additional 5.4km of median barriers planned for this section of highway, from the current barriers south.

Flexible median barriers are recognised as the most effective solution for separating traffic and preventing head-on crashes on narrow roads. The 2.5km of median barrier installed in December 2020 has already more than proven its worth. It’s been hit 40 times since installation - that’s 40 incidents which could have resulted in serious head-on crashes.

Other changes will be new road markings and the current Give Way sign at Maungatautari Road will be changing to a Stop sign. While the major change will be the installation of 1.6km of flexible median barriers, there will also be a change to the passing lane and additional right hand turn bays put in.

The northbound passing lane will be taken out so there’s enough room for emergency vehicles, maintenance activities and over-dimensional vehicles where the flexible median barrier will be installed. This passing lane terminates very close to Kentucky Road and Moana Roa Road as well as some private and business entrances. There are unsafe manoeuvres at the end of this passing lane as slower drivers are often travelling close to the speed limit, so people overtaking using the passing lane travel significantly faster to overtake and then face issues merging back to one lane.

There are also plans to take out the short southbound passing lane up the hill south of Maungatautari Road when we install more median barriers in this area later in the year. Vehicles accelerating to pass here often find themselves braking hard at the top of the hill when they encounter slower traffic negotiating the SH1/29 intersection. This will become even more of an issue when construction of the SH1/29 roundabout begins (currently planned for end of 2022), and traffic management will be in place.

Keeping people safe through the use of median barriers is more important than keeping two passing lanes with identified safety issues. Data shows the passing lanes provide no travel time benefit (annual weekday) and at peak times actually cause lower speeds (Easter 2021 traffic).

We are also finalising safety designs for the 7.5km of road from the end of the Waikato Expressway through to Fergusson Gully Road. This is complex due to many intersections, accessways and properties. Safety improvements being considered include further flexible median barriers, roundabouts, rumble strips and intersection speed zones. The priority is reducing the risk of head-on crashes and improving intersection safety, including at SH1 / Karapiro Road.

These changes support our Road to Zero vision.

Waka Kotahi is working on longer term plans to extend the expressway to Piarere, however construction will be subject to funding availability and currently funding will not be applied for before the 2027-30 National Land Transport Plan period.

In the meantime, we will do what we can to make the existing road safer for everyone.

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Hamilton section of the Waikato Expressway

As the Hamilton section of the Waikato expressway nears completion, there will be some road closures and traffic management in place over the next few weeks.

1-6 May: SH1-Tamahere, full closure north and south from SH26-Hillcrest roundabout to SH21-Tamahere Interchange, from 7pm-6am, for pavement construction and traffic realignment. Detours from north are via SH26 and SH1b to Cambridge, from the south are SH21 and SH3. Local property access will be maintained at all times.

8-13 May: Tamahere south-bound closure, times and detours as above, for pavement construction and traffic realignment.

Any date changes will be posted at the expressway's Facebook page

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Piarere to Taupo safety work

Work to install flexible median safety barriers and roadside barriers on SH1 between Maroa Road and Tram Road, south of Ātiamuri is expected to start in the coming months following a successful tender process.

We’re continuing to engage with our partners and stakeholders on the design for the next stage of the safety improvements between Ātiamuri Bridge and Thorpe Road. Further safety improvements between SH1 Piarere and Taupō will follow during the next 10 years, subject to funding.

Road safety barriers help keep vehicles on the road, out of opposing lanes, and protect you from roadside hazards like power poles and trees. In doing so, they save lives and give you a second chance. Read more

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More information

For more information on any of the projects on State Highway 1 between Cambridge to Piarere, you can email us us at c2p@nzta.govt.nz or visit our website.

Other helpful links for your travel planning are: 

Traffic updates
Journey planner

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More information

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

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/c2p

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