SH1 Cambridge to Piarere Updates

April 2021

NZ Upgrade Roundabout at Piarere (SH1/29)
There is still plenty of planning and preparation needed before any diggers will be seen at work to build the roundabout which will replace the T-intersection of State Highways 1 and 29.

You may have seen people in hi-viz doing site visits in the area recently. There are many technical investigations required in the planning phase including stormwater, ecology, archaeology and geotechnical surveys. The data collected during these site visits helps progress the detailed design of the project and is used in the consenting stage.

The ecology investigations include surveying the vegetation, birds, bats and lizards in the area. In addition, watercourses are investigated to understand the habitat they provide, the quality of water, and an assessment of the flora, fauna and wildlife within the watercourses.

Bat monitors were put in place on a number of properties earlier this year with the data gathered now being analysed.

Waka Kotahi is committed to working in partnership with local iwi to deliver this project. We have been holding regular hui as our team works alongside mana whenua. Iwi artists are involved in design work. We are working closely with the regional and local Councils as well on the consenting processes.

Next steps for the roundabout
Lodgement of designations and resource consents needed for the SH1/29 roundabout is expected to happen later this year with construction anticipated to start in 2022. The roundabout should take approximately two years to complete.

The exact site will be finalised shortly and shared with you.  We can confirm it is not possible to construct the roundabout where the current intersection is located due to the high traffic volumes, safety considerations, efficiency and disruption it would cause on SH1 and SH29. The current intersection will continue to be used while the roundabout is constructed nearby.

Long term Cambridge to Piarere project - expressway extension
The detailed business case for the longer-term Cambridge to Piarere corridor is now expected to be presented to the Waka Kotahi Board in mid-2021.

If approved, we would then seek designations for route protection and regional resource consents. Route protection does not finalise exact details of where any future road would be built, but does confirm the approximate route on the wider corridor.

Safety barriers on SH1
Through Waka Kotahi’s work to deliver Road to Zero, safety improvements will continue to be implemented along SH1. This includes the installation of additional flexible median barriers to reduce the number of serious crashes between Cambridge and Piarere.

Last year, 2.4km of flexible median safety barriers were installed from Fergusson Gully Road to the reserve further south.

We are working on the designs for additional flexible median barriers and roadside barriers from the reserve to Maungatautari Road. Before any construction starts, we will share the final designs and plans with you to get feedback so the designs can be completed.

Example of an Intersection Speed Zone

Other safety improvements

Installation of Intersection Speed Zones (ISZ) - also known as rural intersection activated warning signs (RIAWS) - are being investigated as safety solutions for intersections such as Karapiro Road/SH1. 

These could be installed near the major approaches to the intersection and activate from turning or approaching vehicles on Karapiro Road. By reducing the speed of vehicles at intersections, ISZs can reduce the number and severity of crashes.

We can confirm an ISZ at the Karapiro Road / SH1 intersection has been proposed for inclusion in the 2021-2024 National Land Transport Plan (NLTP), our three-year investment programme.

Further planning and information is needed for these activities to be prioritised before funding can be confirmed for an ISZ at this intersection. Factors considered in this national prioritisation include cost and safety benefits analysis.

The NLTP programme is expected to be confirmed in August 2021.

While the ISZ is one solution proposed for the Karapiro/SH1 intersection, there are other safety improvements that could be implemented on SH1 in the area.

These include additional signage, centre and side barriers, standard safety interventions at intersections and speed management. Any improvements would be done in a staged approach if and when funding becomes available.

We have recently completed further traffic surveying in order to get the latest movement counts, delay analysis, speed and risk assessment of the intersection.  

If you would like more information on road safety, go here for information on the Government’s Road to Zero Safety Strategy.

Maintenance

Maintenance planned in the area includes further work on the recent rehabilitation site around Maungatautari Road.  There is also the final seal to go in for the shoulder widening around the median barriers which were installed in December last year. Dates for this maintenance work have not yet been finalised. We will let you know when firm dates are known.   

You can check what work is taking place in your area by visiting our traffic and travel website.

More 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