Muller’s expressway plan

The National Party has pledged to build a $570 million extension to the Waikato Expressway if it forms the next government.

Opposition leader Todd Muller made the announcement during a visit to Piarere, southeast of Cambridge, yesterday. Extending the four-lane Waikato Expressway from Cambridge to the intersection of State Highway 1 and SH29, at Piarere, would improve travel times and save lives, Muller said.

‘‘I come from Tauranga, I come many times over to this part of the world, it is a sort of heart in your mouth moment as you turn right into this traffic,’’ he said. ‘‘It is unacceptable and will of course be resolved when we have the Cambridge to Piarere expressway.’’

Data from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency shows there were 121 crashes along the 16-kilometre stretch of highway between 2013 and 2017, resulting in 22 deaths or serious injuries.

Muller said the Cambridge to Piarere project was progressed under the last National Government only for it to be shelved by Labour.

In January, the Labour-led Government revealed plans to replace the T intersection between SH1 and SH29 with a $58m roundabout.

The announcement was part of a $6.8 billion Government spend on transport infrastructure.

Muller said construction of the new road would begin in National’s first term if it is successful at the polls. He estimated the 16km section could take 3-4 years to complete and would ensure the transport corridor between Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga was of a ‘‘world-class standard’’. The extension includes a continuous four-lane state highway, mainly height-separated intersections, and a new roundabout at the intersection of SH1 and SH29. ‘‘It [Cambridge to Piarere section] will be part of a nationwide approach of building really strong infrastructure that will underpin economic growth and a recovery,’’ Muller said. ‘‘We [National] started the Waikato Expressway, the diggers that you see when you come here, they are National Party diggers.

‘‘We had the vision to connect our large cities together in a way that creates economic growth [and] underpins success.’’

Muller said National’s announcement did not signal the party’s preference for roading projects over rail.

Transport Minister Phil Twyford was not available for a media interview yesterday afternoon.

National’s Hamilton East MP, David Bennett, said Muller’s pledge was great news for Waikato and reflected the community’s wishes.

‘‘This intersection is notorious for deaths and it is one of the worst intersections in the region. It is a prime safety concern to build this road,’’ Bennett said.

‘‘The Waikato and especially Hamilton has grown as a result of significant investment and this [announcement] carries on the legacy of the Waikato Expressway.’’

‘‘It [Cambridge to Piarere section] will be part of a nationwide approach of building really strong infrastructure that will underpin economic growth and a recovery.’’

Todd Muller