Safe roads and roadsides

We’re making sections of State Highway 1 (SH1) in the Taupō region safer to support the delivery of Road to Zero, New Zealand's road safety strategy. We’re engaging with iwi partners, stakeholders and the community throughout the planning, design and construction stages of these projects.

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. When barriers are installed on the side and in the centre of the road, they can reduce the number of people killed by up to 90 per cent.

Tokoroa to Taupō safety improvements

Detailed design is underway for flexible median safety barriers and roadside barriers on two high-risk sections of SH1 between Tokoroa and Wairakei. 

Construction of the 4.2km section between Maroa Road and Tram Road is expected to start early next year, followed by part of the state highway between Ātiamuri Bridge and Thorpe Road.

Further safety improvements are planned between SH1 Piarere and Taupō during the next 10 years.

SH1 Taupō Airport to Hatepe

We’re investigating options for safety improvements, including flexible median and roadside safety barriers, on SH1 from Taupō Airport to Hatepe, excluding the township of Waitahanui.

We’re engaging with iwi, stakeholders and the community throughout the feasibility and design stages. Construction could start in late 2022, subject to funding and other planning requirements.

SH1 between Napier Road and Centennial Drive will be resealed now that safety barriers have been installed.

SH1 East Taupō Arterial

We are looking to reseal the road between Napier Road and Centennial Drive this summer, now that work to install flexible median safety barriers and roadside barriers is complete.

There will be delays, speed restrictions and possible overnight closures in place during the resealing so please drive carefully through the work sites and keep to the temporary speed limits.

Taupō District Council is currently building a new shared pathway alongside the route from the Airport Roundabout off Lake Terrace and Anzac Memorial Drive to Centennial Drive.

The next stage of Waka Kotahi safety improvement work between Centennial Drive and Wairakei is expected to start in late 2022, subject to funding. Read more...

Roadworks in the region

We’ll be doing a large amount of roadworks in the area this season to improve the roads, increase safety and make people’s journeys more enjoyable.

Warmer spring and summer months are the best time for resurfacing as daylight hours are longer and the warm temperatures and dry air help the new seal stick to the road surface.

Roadworks currently underway or starting this month include:
- SH32 at Whakamaru township
- SH1 Kiko Road, north of Motuoapa township
- SH1 Te Rangiita, 300m north of Kiko Road
- SH1 Ramsey’s Hill, 2.5km north of SH1/Oruanui Road intersection
- SH5 Taharua Road, 500m south-east of SH5/Taharua Road intersection
- SH5 Fitzgerald Glade, at SH5/Tapapa Road intersection 

We’re also planning to re-mark 1.2km of SH1 from Airport Road to Tawhaa Rd with a wide centreline, in conjunction with a planned reseal.

While we aim to do all of this work with as little disruption as possible, there will inevitably be delays to journeys. We encourage you to plan ahead using the journey planner to minimise delays.

Please drive carefully through work sites, keep to the temporary speed limits and be respectful of our crews who are working hard to maintain the roads. To find out more, go to our Waikato roadworks page

SH5 and SH51 speed reviews

Earlier this year we went out for consultation and engagement on proposed speed limit changes for SH5 between Rangitaiki and Esk Valley and SH51 between Marine Parade and Waipatu in Hawke’s Bay.

At the same time, people were also asked to provide feedback about current speeds on two other sections of SH5 – from Esk Valley to the SH5 turn-off, and from Taupō to the Rangitaiki Straights.

In total, just under 1800 separate submissions were received for SH5 and around 300 separate submissions were received for SH51. The SH51 speed review is complete and changes have been implemented. 

We are in the process of analysing the feedback and finalising the technical assessments for SH5. Should the decision be to proceed with the proposed speed limit changes we would expect to announce the changes by the end of this year, and to implement these in February.

In the meantime, we’ve completed $2.5m safety infrastructure improvements for SH5, including side barriers, road markings and rumble lines, and improvements at Titiokura Summit and the Tarawera Café entrance. Read more...

Kōrero mai – Have your say on Waikato Expressway speed review

The SH1 Waikato Expressway is nearing completion, with the Hamilton section scheduled to open in mid-2022, and we’re inviting people to have their say on a proposal to make the speed limit on the 64km expressway 110km/h.

Some of the more recently completed sections of the Waikato Expressway are built to very high safety standards. Because these roads have features that make it safer for travelling at higher speeds, the speed limit may be set to a higher limit than other state highways.

Before we make a decision, we want to hear from you. Submissions can be emailed to waikato.speed.reviews@nzta.govt.nz or completed online. Submissions close 5pm on 23 November 2021.

Check out our video to find out more

About flexible road safety barriers

Flexible road safety barriers prevent head-on crashes and therefore make a big difference in reducing the number of people killed and seriously injured if someone makes a mistake.

Barriers keep vehicles on the road. When you hit a flexible barrier, the steel cables flex, slowing your vehicle and keeping it upright. They absorb the impact and help protect you and your passengers. 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