$1.8 billion is forecast to be invested in Waikato in the 2021–24 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) period. This will provide a safe, accessible land transport system, that underpins Waikato’s valuable economic contribution and importance as a regional hub.
We’re making four of Waikato’s most dangerous rural intersections safer by installing intersection speed zones (ISZ) as safe speed limits will save lives and reduce the number of people seriously injured on these roads. The first ISZ was installed in September 2023 at the intersection of Raynes Road and State Highway 3, near Hamilton. These improvements will be in place until longer-term safety improvements, including a roundabout and raised safety platform, are built.
SH3/Raynes Road intersection safety improvements
State Highway 1 between Cambridge to Piarere is part of one of the country’s most important transport corridors and a programme of safety improvements is underway. In October we completed the second of five turnarounds on the corridor, at Keeley’s Reserve, providing another safe place for people driving to change direction safely. The focus has now shifted to the design and build of turnaround bays at Gorton and Tunakawa Roads, as well as north of Hickey Road, in early 2024. The turnarounds and median safety 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.
SH1 Cambridge to Piarere safety improvements
State Highway 25A Taparahi, between Kōpū and Hikuai, suffered significant damage with the road collapsing after the North Island’s major storm event in late January 2023. A bridge was selected to reconnect the Coromandel Peninsula communities as it could be built quicker than other options. A bridge like this would usually take 12 to 14 months to construct but it was delivered three months earlier than initially proposed, opening in December 2023.
Safety improvements continue on SH1 Cambridge to Piarere – a further 1km of median barrier just south of Maungatautari Road was installed in January 2023, to prevent head-on crashes and reduce deaths and serious injuries.
Safe and reliable access around the Coromandel is a high priority for the region. A number of bridges have been upgraded, improved or maintained, with work progressing on the replacement of the SH26 Onetai Bridge and SH25 Pepe Bridge.
SH25 Pepe Stream Bridge replacement
As part of the delivery of New Zealand’s road safety strategy, we’ve identified two Waikato corridors and six intersections where safety improvements could make a big difference in saving lives:
Construction work is underway on safety improvements between SH1/SH29 Piarere to SH5 Wairākei, with median barrier sections currently under construction along a 4.24km section of road north of Maroa Road and Tram Road and a 6.86km section from Atiamuri Bridge to Thorpe Road.
The detailed design phase is progressing for safety improvements (including a median and roadside barrier) on SH1 between Taupō Airport and Hātepe. The existing 100km/hr limit will remain while safety barriers are being delivered.
Work to widen the road and install flexible median safety barriers and roadside barriers between Napier Road and Centennial Drive on the SH1 East Taupo Arterial was completed in April 2022. The next stage of improvement on the section between Centennial Drive and Wairākei is expected to start summer 2023/24.
Safety improvements continue for SH1 Cambridge to Piarere. Stage 2 has started which will see 4.24km of median barriers installed.
Maintenance summary infographic for Waikato 2022/23 [PDF, 878 KB]
Planned maintenance infographic for Waikato 2024/24 [PDF, 1.1 MB]
We’re committed to a collaborative approach to transport planning, funding and development. It’s an approach that delivers integrated transport solutions that best meet the needs of New Zealanders. To achieve these results, we seek open and honest consultation across a range of activities with all our stakeholders, including road users, business, local government, communities and iwi.
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