News on projects on SH1, Cambridge to Piarere

Construction start date announced for roundabout at SH1 & SH29

One of the most talked-about infrastructure projects in Waikato is due to get underway in October this year. The high-risk T-intersection at State Highway 1 and State Highway 29 will be replaced with a two-lane roundabout. 

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency recognises this is welcome news for the community, as people have been calling for safety improvements at this intersection for some considerable time.

“This is an important project in one of New Zealand’s most critical transport corridors, and the intersection improvements will help people get where they are going safely when travelling on this very busy highway,” says Waka Kotahi Regional Manager of Infrastructure Delivery, Jo Wilton.

The Environment Court has accepted the applications for resource consent and notice of requirement to alter designations for activities associated with the project.

“Waka Kotahi is preparing to go to tender and hope to have the contract awarded by August, with construction starting at the beginning of the earthworks season, anticipated to be in October,” Ms Wilton says.

“We acknowledge the work iwi have put into making this happen, as well as the regional and local councils."

The intersection of SH1 and SH29 is a confluence of three destinations; South Waikato, Bay of Plenty and the northern parts of Waikato as well as the three iwi in the area, Ngaati Koroki Kahukura, Ngaati Hauaa and Raukawa. All of this means it is a significant project.

Funded through the New Zealand Upgrade Programme, the new roundabout allows connection with the potential future Cambridge to Piarere expressway and will accommodate future walking and cycling connections as there will be two underpasses: one under SH1 Tīrau leg and one under SH29 Tauranga leg.

“A roundabout provides an inherently safe intersection as it gives everyone, from whatever direction they approach, a slower speed environment at all times. A good roundabout design provides equal access and manages energy if a collision is to occur, therefore minimising severe injury,” Ms Wilton says.

The long-term Cambridge to Piarere expressway project is currently at the stage of securing route protection. This involves processes under the Resource Management Act to allow Waka Kotahi to require designations and to obtain regional resource consents to ensure we are ready to proceed if and when funding is made available. Once route protection is secured, funding must be confirmed; the next stages include detailed design, tendering and construction.

Read on for more information on the roundabout and the safety improvements.

A view of the current intersection from the general area where the roundabout will be constructed

Why a roundabout?

Some people in the community have told us they'd have preferred we build a flyover or grade separation instead of a roundabout at this intersection.

While the time for making submissions on this part of the project has passed (as part of the consenting process), the reasons for this decision are worth sharing.

Grade separated intersections (including flyovers) were examined for the SH1/29 intersection as part of the development of the Detailed Business Case for the long term improvement plans. Modelling was undertaken and showed that a roundabout will perform satisfactorily for 40 years.

Both roundabout and grade separation are valid options for traffic flow and safety but there are important safety reasons why a roundabout was chosen instead of a flyover.

The roundabout has been designed to allow connection with a potential future expressway. A roundabout at the end of any Cambridge to Piarere expressway will help travellers slow down, assess directions and traffic conditions and adjust their driving from a high-speed expressway back into a two-lane rural highway environment.

More info on the roundabout construction

Part of the enabling work for this project has already been completed. This included relocating, lifting and undergrounding the overhead power lines and poles and relocating telecommunication cables to ensure they are in the right place.

The current intersection will continue to be used as the roundabout is being built, as the construction site is to the side of the current road layout. The idea of constructing the roundabout at the current intersection was discounted due to the high traffic volumes, safety considerations, efficiency and the unacceptable disruption that would result on State Highway 1.

Click on this link to view a map showing the location where the roundabout will be constructed. 

Mark Yungnickel, one of the ecologists working on the expressway planning

Cambridge to Piarere proposed Expressway

The long-term Cambridge to Piarere expressway project is at the stage of securing route protection. This involves processes under the Resource Management Act to allow Waka Kotahi to require designations and to obtain regional resource consents to ensure we are ready to proceed if and when funding is made available.

Once route protection is secured, funding must be confirmed for the next stages include detailed design, tendering and construction. 

The applications for these consents are anticipated to be made later this year. Specialists in areas such as archeology, hydrogeology and ecology continue to conduct their investigations which form part of the applications. 

We will let you know when we have a definite date when the consents will be lodged and provide information on how you can be involved in that process or find out more about it.   

Latest information on the safety improvements planned on the current highway

In the meantime, road safety upgrade plans are getting closer to being finalised to make the existing SH1 between Cambridge and Piarere safer.

More median barriers will be installed, five U-turn bays and a roundabout at Karāpiro Road/SH1 intersection are planned to be built on SH1 between Cambridge and Piarere. Enabling work is underway and construction of the first two U turn bays and the next tranche of median barriers is expected to start next summer. 

You can read more about the safety improvement project on this link. 

Additional information

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

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