Latest information on SH1, Cambridge to Piarere

Keeley's Reserve is open for Labour Weekend

Quick turnaround on work at Keeley’s Reserve

The bulk of the work has wrapped up on the turnaround bay at Keeley’s Reserve in Karāpiro this week, just in time to have the Reserve open again for the long weekend.

The necessary touches to re-open the popular reserve to the public were applied this week, including hydroseeding, signage and minor concrete works.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Regional Manager for Infrastructure Delivery, Jo Wilton, says this will be welcome news to lake users, with the work originally expected to take up to nine weeks but completed within six.

“This shorter duration in construction has been possible due to a number of factors, such as the materials used on site and the dedicated work of our contractor, J Swap Contractors.”

Ms Wilton says the only outstanding task is the installation of the streetlighting system, which will be completed just prior to Christmas or in early 2024.

“The lighting is a key component to improving safety at the entrance to the reserve and will be completed as soon as possible. Procuring the parts is taking longer than expected due to a nation-wide shortage.”

The right-turn out of Keeley’s Reserve onto SH1 will remain open until the turnaround at Tunakawa Road is built early next year and more flexible safety median barriers are installed. At this point the right-turn out of Keeley’s Reserve will be permanently closed.

Construction of the Keeley’s Reserve turnaround bay follows the recently completed turnaround bay at the intersection of SH1 and Hydro Road, providing another safe place for people driving to change direction safely.

More information on the project.

What’s next for safety improvements?

Our focus for the next few months is:

- The construction of a turnaround bay north of Hickey Road.

- Installing median barrier from the end of the Waikato Expressway through to Hydro Road.

- Road widening and turnaround bays at Gorton and Tunawaka Roads.

We will provide more information about these works once confirmed. We are currently finalising property arrangements and coordinating work with road maintenance teams where possible.

The bigger picture

We’ve looked at the types and causes of crashes on SH1 and identified improvements that puts the safety of people first.

The proposed improvements mean people will have to change the way they use the road in the future, but they will save lives and reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on this road.

The turnarounds and median barriers, along with roundabouts at the SH1/Karāpiro and SH1/SH29 intersections, will make this stretch of SH1 much safer, reducing the risk of head-on crashes.  

The map below shows the final product of the Cambridge to Piarere safety improvements project.

SH1/SH29 intersection improvements at Piarere

Waka Kotahi is getting closer to starting the project which will make intersection of SH1 and SH29 at Piarere safer.

We are in the process of selecting a preferred tenderer and working towards announcing this shortly.

We will work with the successful contractor to ensure the construction programme commences as soon as possible. The aim is to have the roundabout complete and working as designed within 24 months of construction beginning.

We will keep everyone updated as the project progresses.

No detour for Victoria

Maintenance work running ahead

Another project on this highway has also finished in time for the long weekend - much to everyone’s relief! The road rebuild work at Gorton Road has been completed and traffic management was removed on Thursday morning. Thank you for your understanding and patience while this work was completed.

We will need to bring the cones and crew back again just before the end of summer for a short time to put on the second coat of chipseal. This is a standard process for road rehabilitation work as it allows the new road structure and first seal layer time to compact and settle. Allowing time between first and second coats reduces the risk of flushing occurring. Flushing is a defect in the surface. In hot weather, the binder in a flush surface can become sticky and soft and in wet conditions, a flush surface can be a safety hazard due to very poor skid resistance.

In early October, the crew escorted Victoria Taylor through the site during her attempt to run the length of New Zealand. She is going for a Guinness world record to be the fastest female to run the length of New Zealand. In doing so she is raising awareness and funds for mental health and cancer.

The team paused their hard work for a few minutes and escorted her through the work area to save her going around the detour. You can follow her progress on Facebook and she also has a Givealittle page. Last night she had reached Dunsandel, just south of Christchurch!

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