Waikato Expressway bridges due to open soon
Two bridges that will cross the Hamilton Section of the Waikato Expressway are expected to open to traffic before Christmas.
The first — the Morrinsville Road Bridge — is expected to open in late October, and the Gordonton Road Bridge in December. The Matangi Road Bridge is expected to open in February 2018.
These bridges have been built on the ground, with the expressway route to be excavated beneath the bridges this summer. A fourth bridge — the East Coast Main Trunk Rail Bridge at Ruakura — will be opened to construction traffic only, by Christmas.
NZ Transport Agency Portfolio Manager Peter Simcock said dumptrucks will travel under or over the new bridges hauling sand to construct the expressway embankments.
“This is a great outcome for the community because it means that some of the construction traffic will be removed from busy local roads.” Mr Simcock says work on the other bridges is progressing well but construction has been affected by the recent wet weather.
Kay Road was originally expected to reopen to traffic before Christmas but construction has been affected by weather and difficult ground conditions. It will now open in June 2018.
Once Kay Road is reopened, Horsham Downs Road will close near the intersection with Borman Road for up to eight months to build another bridge over the expressway.
“Unfortunately the terrain in this area will not allow space for a traffic diversion around the area required for bridge construction and service relocations. But we will be working with the community to ensure they are kept up to date about the routes they can follow,” Mr Simcock said
The Hamilton Section of the Waikato Expressway will reduce traffic congestion, improve safety, reduce travel times and boost economic growth in the Waikato.
Construction is due to complete in 2020.