Ka ora te tangata, ka ora te iwi - If the people are well then the iwi will thrive. (Evelyn Forrest, General Manager Ngāti Tahu-Ngāti Whaoa Runanga Trust)

Blessing for SH1 Piarere to Taupō safety improvement works

Work to make SH1 between Piarere and Taupō safer will get underway this month, after an iwi blessing of the work site.

The blessing, led by Ngāti Tahu-Ngāti Whaoa, signals the beginning of the first stage of safety improvements on this section of SH1 and calls for guidance and protection over the work and the people involved.

The first stage of safety improvements will see flexible median safety barriers and roadside safety barriers installed on the 4.5km stretch of SH1 between Maroa Road and Tram Road, south of Ātiamuri.

Higgins Contractors has been awarded the construction contract for this stage, following a tender process. Site investigations will begin this month with physical works starting in June and will take approximately eight months to complete, subject to weather and any Covid-related delays.

Road safety barriers help keep vehicles on the road, out of opposing lanes, and protect road users from roadside hazards like power poles and trees.

The next stage of the project will see flexible median safety barriers and roadside safety barriers installed on the 6.9km section of state highway from Ātiamuri Bridge to Thorpe Road, subject to funding.

We’re continuing to engage with iwi, partners and stakeholders on the design for this next stage. Further safety improvements between Piarere and Taupō will follow during the next 10 years, after feasibility work is completed and funding allocated. Read more

First stage of ETA safety improvements complete

Safety improvement works on SH1 East Taupō Arterial between Napier Road and Centennial Drive are now complete. The final touches were made recently with Audio Tactile Profiled (ATP) roadmarkings being installed.

Sometimes referred to as rumble strips, ATP roadmarkings have raised ribs or mounds oriented perpendicular to the direction of travel and spaced at regular intervals along them. If a driver runs over an ATP marking it will provide an audible and tactile warning.

ATP edgelines reduce run-off road crashes by 30% and head on crashes by 10%, while ATP centrelines reduce run-off road to the right crashes by 10-15% and head on crashes by 30%. ATP roadmarkings can be used to:

• warn drivers who are suffering the effects of fatigue
• alert distracted drivers
• improve lane discipline.

Stage 2 between Centennial Drive and Wairākei is currently expected to start in late 2024, subject to funding. Read more

Artist's impression of the new bridge over the Mangaharakeke Stream.

New bridge on the way for Waikato River Trail

Construction will begin soon on a new bridge at the eastern end of the Waikato River Trail near Ātiamuri. 

The bridge over the Mangaharakeke Stream will provide a safe crossing for people who are walking and cycling, and mean they will no longer need to use the SH30 Ongaroto Road bridge.

The bridge will take around two months to build and access to the Waikato River Trail will not be affected. 

This year's theme is Road Safety Heroes, celebrating all those working to make our roads safer.

Road Safety Week: Celebrating Road Safety Heroes

The theme of this year's Road Safety Week is Road Safety Heroes, celebrating all those working to make our roads safer, from road safety professionals and emergency services, to transport planners and engineers, road workers and school crossing patrols.

A range of events and activities are happening across the motu with more than 750 organisations, schools, childcare centres and community groups signed up to take part and run Road Safety Hero activities. Road Safety Week is coordinated by Brake, the road safety charity and sponsored by Waka Kotahi and Beca.

Road Safety Week gives us an opportunity to continue to raise awareness around the collective mahi that contributes to an Aotearoa where everyone can get to where they’re going safely, no matter how they travel.

Mā tātou e kore tētahi e hinga | It takes everyone to get to no one. Read more

Resurfacing and safety improvements on SH1 near Cambridge

If you're on SH1 near Cambridge in the next few weeks please be aware that there may be detours, stop/go traffic management overnight, and temporary speed limits while surfacing works are carried out and flexible median barriers installed.

From 9 May, southbound traffic will be detoured off SH1 between the hours of 9am and 4pm, Monday to Friday while surfacing work takes place. Traffic will be diverted via Karapiro Road, Taotaoroa Road and SH29. Northbound traffic will continue to use SH1 as normal, with a temporary speed limit in place to ensure the safety of crew and road users.

From 15 March, stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place between 7pm and 6am while we install 1.6km of flexible median barrier north of Maungatautari Road.

This work follows on from the installation of 2.5km median barrier between Fergusson Gully Road and Keeleys Reserve in December 2020. Already the value of this has been seen, with the barrier hit 40 times during the past 18 months – that’s 40 potential head-on crashes avoided. Read more

More information

For more information on the SH1 Taupō projects, contact us at Waikato.Projects@nzta.govt.nz

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/sh1-taupo