Waikato Expressway#History

While not officially designated as the Waikato Expressway until the early 2000s, the upgrading of SH 1 from the Bombay Hills to Mercer in 1992–93 can be considered the first step in construction of the expressway. In this upgrade, SH 1 from the end of the Southern Motorway to just north of Mercer was upgraded from two lanes to four, with grade-separated interchanges constructed at Bombay and the junction with SH 2 just north of the township of Pōkeno. A bypass of Pōkeno was also constructed at this time, as well as several partially separated interchanges to allow access for local property owners along the route.{{cite web|title=Auckland Motorways 2008|url=http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/auckland-motorways/docs/2008.pdf|publisher=New Zealand Transport Agency|access-date=24 January 2012}}

The Rangiriri to Ohinewai section was completed in 2003. The northern half of this section follows the pre-existing highway while the southern half of this section deviates from the original highway in order to bypass Ohinewai and features a diamond interchange on Tahuna Rd.{{cite web|title=Rangiriri to South of Ohinewai|url=http://sh20mountroskill.co.nz/projects/waikatoexpressway/about/rangiriri.jsp|work=Waikato Expressway|publisher=Transit New Zealand|access-date=23 January 2012}}

The Mercer to Longswamp section from the Bombay Hills to Mercer was opened in July 2006. The former two-lane section of state highway is now the carriageway for northbound traffic, while a separate carriageway for southbound traffic was constructed in parallel.{{cite news|title=Traffic switches to new lanes at Mercer|url=http://sh20mountroskill.co.nz/projects/waikatoexpressway/news/003.jsp|access-date=23 January 2012|newspaper=Transit New Zealand Press release|date=22 April 2004}} A grade-separated interchange at Mercer was also constructed, incorporating an overpass for the southbound lanes to cross over the North Island Main Trunk railway (NIMT) at this point.

As the two dual carriageway sections of the expressway (Bombay Hills to Longswamp and Rangiriri to Ohinewai) were not continuous, the section of highway between Longswamp and Rangiriri was upgraded to a 2+1 road in 2005 with the intention of upgrading it to four lanes later.{{cite web |title=Longswamp to Te Kauwhata Four-Laning|url=http://sh20mountroskill.co.nz/projects/waikatoexpressway/about/longswamp.jsp|work=Waikato Expressway|publisher=Transit New Zealand|access-date=23 January 2012}}

In 2009 the Waikato Expressway was announced by the Minister of Transport, Steven Joyce, as being one of seven "roads of national significance".{{cite web |title=Roads of national significance |url= http://www.nzta.govt.nz/network/rons/index.html |publisher=NZ Transport Agency |access-date=6 June 2011}}

The $210m Mangaharakeke Drive section, originally known as the Te Rapa Bypass, was opened on 3 December 2012 between Horotiu and Rotokauri.{{cite web|title=New length of Waikato Expressway now open to traffic |url=http://www.nzta.govt.nz/about/media/releases/2329/news.html |work=www.nzta.govt.nz|publisher=New Zealand Transport Agency|access-date=11 December 2012|date=3 December 2012}} Construction of the section of the expressway and Mangaharakeke Drive between Taupiri and Horotiu, bypassing Ngāruawāhia, began in late 2011 and was officially opened on 14 December 2013.{{cite web |title=Waikato Expressway contract awarded |url= http://www.nzta.govt.nz/about/media/releases/1148/news.html |publisher=NZ Transport Agency |access-date=6 June 2011}} It includes Te Rehu O Waikato Bridge over the Waikato River, and the {{Convert|142|m||abbr=on}}, 4-span, concrete-steel composite NIMTR Bridge over the NIMT and Onion Road extension, at a skew angle of 61°, which used 800 tonnes of structural steel.{{Cite book|last1=Chan|first1=M.|last2=Wiles|first2=P.|date=Oct 2011|title=Waikato Expressway, Te Rapa Section: NIMTR Bridge|url=https://trid.trb.org/view/1138136|isbn=978-1-921709-81-4|via=}}

Following funding approval in December 2012{{cite web|title=Construction funding approved for two sections of the Waikato Expressway |url=http://www.nzta.govt.nz/traffic/current-conditions/bulletin/2359/news.html|publisher=NZTA|access-date=19 December 2012|date=18 December 2012}} construction of the Rangiriri and Cambridge sections commenced in March and August 2013 respectively. The Cambridge section was opened officially on 15 December 2015{{cite web|title=Associate Minister marks start of Waikato Expressway – Rangiriri |url=http://www.nzta.govt.nz/about/media/releases/2466/news.html |work=Waikato Expressway|publisher=New Zealand Transport Agency: Waikato Regional Office|access-date=13 December 2013}}{{cite news|last=Henson|first=Narelle|title=$250m project brings bypass, bridges and 300 jobs|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/9109636/250m-project-brings-bypass-bridges-and-300-jobs|access-date=13 December 2013|newspaper=Waikato Times |date=31 August 2013}} and to traffic the next day. The Rangiriri section mainline opened as a single carriageway on 21 June 2016,{{cite news |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/80803689/rangiriri-section-of-waikato-expressway-set-to-open |title=Rangiriri section of Waikato Expressway set to open |work=Waikato Times |publisher=Stuff |date=7 June 2016 |access-date=8 June 2016}} and became fully operational as a dual carriageway on 13 April 2017.

Construction of the Huntly section began in late August 2015. Construction of the Hamilton section, the longest stretch, commenced in March 2016.{{cite news |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/77785590/pm-and-transport-minister-turn-sod-on-hamilton-section-of-waikato-expressway |title=PM and Transport Minister turn sod on Hamilton section of Waikato Expressway |newspaper=Waikato Times |date=11 March 2016}} Construction of the Longswamp section, the last section to commence, began in October 2016{{cite news |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/82013876/Contract-awarded-for-final-part-of-Waikato-Expressway |title=Contract awarded for final part of Waikato Expressway |work=Waikato Times |publisher=Stuff |date=12 July 2016 |access-date=12 July 2016}} and it opened in December 2019.{{cite news |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2019/12/waikato-expressway-longswamp-section-finally-opening-for-christmas-commuters.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219003833/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2019/12/waikato-expressway-longswamp-section-finally-opening-for-christmas-commuters.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 December 2019 |title=Waikato Expressway: Longswamp section finally opening for Christmas motorists |work=Newshub |author=Jamie Ensor |date=18 December 2019 |access-date=19 December 2019}}

In May 2017, the NZTA started consulting on a {{Convert|16|km||abbr=on}} extension of the expressway, from the current terminus at Cambridge south to the {{NZSH|29}} intersection at Piarere.{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/92059015/new-road-to-improve-link-between-hamilton-and-tauranga|title=Tauranga turnoff 'black spot' to benefit from proposed expressway extension: Government|publisher=Stuff |date=1 May 2017|access-date=14 August 2017}}

In December 2017, the Cambridge section became one of the first two sections of highway in New Zealand to be given a speed limit of {{Convert|110|km/h||abbr=on}}.{{cite news |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/news/99722452/waikato-tauranga-expressway-speed-limits-to-rise-to-110kh |title=Waikato, Tauranga expressway speed limits rise to 110kmh |author=Phillipa Yalden |publisher=Stuff |date=11 December 2017 |access-date=11 December 2017}}

The final section, bypassing Hamilton, was opened formally on 12 July 2022 and to traffic on 14 July 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/129283124/hamilton-section-of-waikato-expressway-open-to-traffic|title=Hamilton section of Waikato Expressway open to traffic|first=Jo|last=Lines-MacKenzie|date=15 July 2022|website=Stuff }} As of the completion of the final section, the resulting expressway is {{Convert|102|km||abbr=on}} in length.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/waikato-news/news/final-piece-in-waikato-expressway-jigsaw-blessed-and-ready-for-motorists-soon/L3AHAZKX7Q7W6EAFAPW74PAO5U/|title=Waikato Expressway blessed and ready for motorists|website=The New Zealand Herald |date=14 July 2022}} On the grand opening day for the final section, a celebration of the completion of the entire expressway project was held. Since 13 July 2022, the speed limit in the section between Hampton Downs and Tamahere has been {{Convert|110|km/h||abbr=on}}.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/129213312/zero-speed-tolerance-on-110kmh-waikato-expressway-police-say|title=Zero speed tolerance on 110kmh Waikato Expressway, police say|first=Jo|last=Lines-MacKenzie|date=8 July 2022|website=Stuff }}

On the {{Convert|16|km||abbr=on}} Cambridge section in the year following its opening, up to 50 serious crashes were avoided because of road safety barriers.{{cite web |title= No fatalities all year on Expressway with new barriers |url= https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/320635/no-fatalities-all-year-on-expressway-with-new-barriers/ |date= 17 December 2016 |publisher=RNZ }}

A 2009 report for New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) concluded that the benefit cost ratio of the Expressway was 0.5, i.e. for every dollar of investment the return was 50 cents.{{Cite web|url=http://transportblog.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/saha-assessment.pdf|title=New Zealand Transport Agency – Roads of National Significance – Economic Assessments 2009 p. 33}}

The figures were reworked in 2010 because "Infometrics original RoNS analysis and report was concluded in December 2009. Since this time, NZTA published an updated conventional evaluation of the Waikato Expressway. The materiality of the change to the Waikato Expressway assessment warranted an update and re-run of the CGE model." The re-run model shows benefits of $186.3m pa, against annual costs of $87.3m. However, this is based on a total cost for the road of $1454.4m, which omits land costs, "as from an economy-wide perspective this is merely a transfer of ownership of an existing asset".{{Cite web|url=http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/rons-economic-assessment-2010-05/docs/full-report.pdf|title=Roads of National Significance, Economic Assessments Review 2010}} In June 2015 the NZTA estimated the total cost of the road at between $2,200m and $2,400m.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hamiltonurbanblog.co.nz/2015/05/waikato-expressway-6-km-shorter-35-min-faster/|title=Waikato Expressway 6 km shorter?, 35 min faster?|first=Peter|last=H|date=28 May 2015}} A critic has said that the calculations do not take account of the costs of owning and operating a vehicle on the roads, nor rising fuel costs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/business/4366408/Going-down-the-wrong-road|title=Going down the wrong road|first=ROD|last=ORAM|date=20 November 2010|website=Stuff }} In 2016 some MPs were concerned Auckland congestion would cut travel time savings and hence the cost-benefit ratio of 1.4:1. One MP commented that the alternative commuter train, with the same CBR, didn't "get a look in".{{Cite web|url=https://www.parliament.nz/resource/en-NZ/51DBSCH_SCR68586_1/8d2e04c737dcf7edebb3c2d0a61cdf0513c4e2f2|title=2014/15 Annual Review of the Ministry of Transport and the New Zealand Transport Agency|date=11 February 2016|website=Report of the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee}}

The benefits were calculated on what was said to be a conservative estimate of 18,000 vehicles saving 15 minutes per day at a cost of $25/ hour, giving a yearly benefit of around $40 million.{{Cite web|title=CASE STUDY: Waikato Expressway|url=https://www.transport.govt.nz/assets/Import/Documents/Case20study-Waikato20Expressway.pdf|website=NZTA}}

In December 2020 the NZTA reported that an evaluation of extending the Waikato Expressway south of Cambridge {{convert|16|km|0}} to the SH 1/SH 29 intersection at Piarere would be completed in 2021 but that there was as yet no funding for the project.{{cite web |title= Cambridge to Piarere: Project Update| url= https://createsend.com/t/t-937B4A9051F856542540EF23F30FEDED|date= December 2020 |publisher= NZTA|access-date= 2 January 2021}} The extension would bypass the existing highway along the eastern shore of Lake Karapiro.{{cite web |title= Short-list of options for key State Highway 1 route through Waikato released |url= https://www.nzta.govt.nz/media-releases/short-list-of-options-for-key-state-highway-1-route-through-waikato-released/ |date= 20 October 2017 |publisher= NZTA}}

{{Jcttop |exit |unit=km |state_col=Territorial authority |nocty=yes}}

{{Jctint|exit

|county_special=Auckland (Franklin Local Board)

|cspan=2

|location_special= Bombay

|lspan=3

|km=471.5

|exit=471

|road=Great South Road – Bombay, Pukekohe
Bombay Service Centre

|notes=Northern terminus, {{jct|country=NZL|SH|1}} continues north as Auckland Southern Motorway

}}

{{Jctint|exit

|km=473.2

|exit=473

|road=Beaver Road East / Beaver Road West

|notes=No east/west connection, left-in, left-out only in both directions

|type=incomplete

}}

{{Jctint|exit

|county_special=Waikato District

|cspan=22

|km=474.5

|exit=474

|road=Nikau Road / Ridge Road

|notes=

}}

{{Jctint|exit

|location_special= Pōkeno

|lspan=7

|km=476.0

|exit=476

|road=Razorback Road / Helenslee Road

|notes=Northbound entrance and southbound exit

|type=incomplete

}}

|-

{{Jctint|exit

|km=476.7

|exit=477

|road={{jct|country=NZL|SH|2}} – Coromandel Peninsula, Tauranga

|notes=

}}

{{Jctint|exit

|km=477.9

|exit=479

|road=Great South Road – Pōkeno

|notes=Northbound entrance and southbound exit

|type=incomplete

}}

{{Jctint|exit

|km=478.9

|exit=

|road=Great South Road – Pōkeno

|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance

|type=incomplete

}}

{{Jctint|exit

|km=

|exit=

|road=Pioneer Road

|notes=Northbound left-in, left-out only

|type=incomplete

}}

{{Jctint|exit

|km=

|exit=

|road=Pioneer Road

|notes=Southbound exit only

|type=incomplete

}}

{{Jctint|exit

|km=

|exit=

|road=Pioneer Road

|notes=At-grade intersection, left and right turn in and left turn out only.

|type=incomplete

}}

{{Jctint|exit

|location_special= Mercer

|km=483

|exit=

|road=Mercer

|notes=

}}

{{Jctint|exit

|location_special= Meremere

|lspan=4

|km=

|exit=

|road=Oram Road

|notes= At-grade intersection

}}

{{Jctint|exit

|km=

|exit=

|type=

|road=Island Block Road – Meremere

|notes=At-grade intersection

}}

{{Jctint|exit

|km=

|exit=

|type=

|road=Springhill Road – Meremere

|notes=At-grade intersection

}}

{{Jctint|exit

|km=

|exit=

|type=

|road=Dragway Road

|notes=At-grade intersection

}}

{{Jctint|exit

|location_special= Hampton Downs

|km=494

|exit=

|road=Hampton Downs Road – Hampton Downs, Spring Hill Corrections Facility

|notes=

}}

{{Jctint|exit

|location_special= Te Kauwhata

|km=502

|exit=

|road=Te Kauwhata Road / Rodda Road – Te Kauwhata

|notes=

}}

{{Jctint|exit

|location_special= Rangiriri

|lspan=2

|km=504

|exit=

|road=Glen Murray Road – Rangiriri, Glen Murray

|notes=No northbound entrance

|type=incomplete

}}

{{Jctint|exit

|exit=

|road=Armitage Road

|notes=Northbound entrance and exit only

|type=incomplete

}}

{{Jctint|exit

|location_special= Ohinewai

|lspan=2

|km=510

|road=Tahuna Road – Tahuna, Ohinewai

|notes=

}}

{{Jctint|exit

|km=514

|road=Great South Road – Huntly

|notes=Northbound entrance and southbound exit

|type=incomplete

}}

{{Jctint|exit

|location_special= Taupiri

|km=528

|road={{jct|country=NZL|SH|1B|name1=Gordonton Road}} – Taupiri, Huntly, Ngāruawāhia

|notes=

}}

{{Jctint|exit

|location_special= Horsham Downs

|lspan=2

|km=535

|road={{jct|country=NZL|SH|1C|name1=Mangaharakeke Drive}} / Lake Road – Horotiu, Hamilton City, New Plymouth

|notes={{coord|-37.68314|175.21570|format=dms|name=Mangaharakeke Drive interchange|type:landmark_region:NZ-WKO|display=inline}}

}}

{{Jctint|exit

|km=539

|road=Resolution Drive – Rototuna, Horsham Downs

|notes=

}}

{{Jctint|exit

|county_special=Waikato District / Hamilton City boundary

|cspan=2

|location_special= Chartwell

|km=547

|exit=

|road=Pardoa Boulevard / Greenhill Road – Chartwell

|notes=

}}

{{Jctint|exit

|location_special= Ruakura

|km=552

|exit=

|road={{jct|country=NZL|SH|26|name1=Ruakura Road}} – Ruakura, Coromandel Peninsula

|notes=

}}

{{Jctint|exit

|county_special=Waikato District

|cspan=2

|location_special=Tamahere

|lspan=2

|km=559

|exit=

|road={{jct|country=NZL|SH|1C|name1=Cambridge Road}} – Hamilton City

|notes=

}}

{{Jctint|exit

|km=561

|exit=

|road={{jct|country=NZL|SH|21|name1=Airport Road}} – Tamahere, Hamilton Airport

|notes={{coord|-37.82829|175.35760|format=dms|name=SH 21 interchange|type:landmark_region:NZ-WKO|display=inline}}

}}

{{Jctint|exit

|county_special=Waipa District

|cspan=3

|location_special=Cambridge

|lspan=3

|km=566

|exit=

|road=Cambridge Road – Cambridge (west)

|notes=Northbound entrance and southbound exit

|type=incomplete

}}

{{Jctint|exit

|km=571

|exit=

|road={{jct|country=NZL|SH|1B|name1=Victoria Road}} – Cambridge, Hautapu

|notes=

}}

{{Jctint|exit

|km=576

|exit=

|road=Tirau Road (north) – Cambridge

|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance
Southern terminus, {{jct|country=NZL|SH|1}} continues south towards Tirau
{{coord|-37.8967|175.50796|format=dms|name=End of Waikato Expressway|type:landmark_region:NZ-WKO|display=inline}}

|type=incomplete

}}

{{jctbtm|col=7|keys=incomplete|conv=no}}

{{Jcttop |exit |unit=km |state_col=Territorial authority |nocty=yes}}

{{Jctint|exit

|county_special=Waikato District

|cspan=2

|location_special=Horsham Downs

|lspan=2

|km=

|road={{jct|country=NZL|SH|1|dir1=north|name1=Waikato Expressway|nolink=y}} – Huntly, Auckland

|notes=Mangaharakeke Drive begins
No northbound exit

|type=incomplete

}}

{{Jctint|exit

|km=

|road=Lake Road

|notes=Northbound exit only
to Waikato Expressway southbound

|type=incomplete

}}

{{Jctint|exit

|county_special=Waikato District–Hamilton City boundary

|cspan=2

|location_special=Horotiu

|km=

|road=Great South Road/Te Rapa Road – Te Rapa, Ngāruawāhia

|notes=

}}

{{Jctint|exit

|location_special=Burbush

|km=

|road={{jct|country=NZL|SH|39|name1=Koura Drive}} – Raglan, Ōtorohanga

|notes=

}}

{{Jctint|exit

|county_special=Hamilton City

|cspan=2

|location_special=Avalon

|lspan=2

|km=

|road=Wairere Drive/Te Wetini Drive

|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance

|type=incomplete

}}

{{Jctint|exit

|km=

|road=Avalon Drive

|notes=Mangaharakeke Drive ends

}}

{{jctbtm|col=7|keys=incomplete|conv=no}}

• List of motorways and expressways in New Zealand

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/waikato-expressway/index.html Official website]
• [http://www.fletcherconstruction.co.nz/news/2017/september-2017/biggest-roading-project-in-hamilton video of 10 min flyover of Hamilton bypass route in September 2017]

{{New Zealand motorway list}}

Category:Roads in New Zealand

Category:Transport in Waikato

Category:State Highway 1 (New Zealand)