Critical Waikato roading projects on path to completion
A four kilometre stretch of the soon-to-be-completed Cambridge section of the Waikato Expressway will open on Friday while a key road in Hamilton’s industrial north will also soon open to motorists.
In the Cambridge section, the Northern Interchange Bridge will open to traffic, taking State Highway 1 traffic up and over the expressway.
Kaye Clark, NZ Transport Agency’s Hamilton highways manager, said the bridge’s opening meant 4km of the Cambridge section, between the existing Tamahere Interchange and the Northern Interchange, could be ticked off.
The 4km section would open with one lane in each direction.
‘‘There won’t be a ceremony, we’ll just quietly pop the traffic onto the new road.’’
A 50kmh speed limit will apply to allow the chip seal to bed in and help motorists become accustomed to the new road.
The 15.2km Cambridge section was originally planned for completion in late 2016 but Clark said it was possible the entire section could open before Christmas.
A decision on the opening date will be made in October.
‘‘Dry, settled weather was needed to complete pavements and other surfacing work.
The Cambridge section has a budget of $230 million and once completed, will reduce travelling times between Cambridge and Hamilton by about five minutes.
During peak times, the section is expected to shave 10 minutes off journey times between the two centres.
About 365,000 plants will be planted along the Cambridge section. The Waikato Expressway is the country’s largest roading project with a budget of $2.1 billion.
Unlocking the north
Te Rapa Gateway is an industrial park comprised of two precincts and encompassing 120 hectares of land and it will soon be opened, unlocking further development in Te Rapa and Rotokauri. The park’s northern section of Arthur Porter Drive is set to open to traffic on September 21 and is primed to unlock Te Rapa Gateway’s north precinct.
The north precinct is being developed in stages, with Mainfreight already securing 7 hectares there. The Porter Group and New Zealand Post have also bought sites in the park. The park’s south precinct was opened about 12 months ago.
Mike McLennan, from Integrated Development Solutions, said the new 1.2km section of Arthur Porter Dr was crucial to opening up industrial land at Rotokauri. The road will be vested to Hamilton City Council this month.
The road will connect with Ruffell Road in the north and Te Kowhai East Road in the south. ‘‘Before the Waikato Expressway was built, if there was a crash on Te Rapa Road there was no way around. Now you’ve got Maui Street, Arthur Porter Drive and the Waikato Expressway. Te Rapa Gateway is flanked by the Waikato Expressway and the North Island Main Trunk Railway.