Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Why is the project needed?
  2. Why are there only two lanes?
  3. Why don’t we just widen the existing road?
  4. Why does Norton Road go under the railway instead of over it?
  5. What will happen to the bypassed section of the existing Avalon Drive, between Rotokauri and Norton Roads?
  6. How is construction going to be staged?
  7. Why does Norton Road have to close? Can’t a temporary level crossing be provided away from the bridge construction site to enable traffic to continue crossing from Lincoln Street to Norton Road during the construction period?
  8. Why does the Norton Road intersection have to be closed for so long?
  9. What will happen to rail traffic during the construction of the rail bridge?
  10. Will the six tracks currently crossing Norton Road all be placed on the new bridge?
  11. Who will undertake the works?
  12. How many vehicles currently turn into Norton Road from Lincoln Street or Rifle Range Road?
  13. The Norton Road intersection is currently my main route to work. What alternative routes can I take while it’s closed?
  14. My children attend Maeroa Intermediate School and their main way of getting there is by walking or cycling over the rail level crossing on Norton Road. How will they get to school when this end of Norton Road is closed, and will it be safe?
  15. How will the closure of the Norton Road intersection affect the V8 Super Cars event?
  16. Why doesn't the project include the Wintec end of Avalon Drive, and what are Transit's plans for relieving congestion there?

1. Why is the project needed?

The project is needed to relieve congestion on the congested length of SH1 Avalon Drive from Rotokauri Road to Norton Road. The existing highway carries over 25,000 vehicles per day and has a posted speed of 60km/ h. This heavy vehicle load and restricted speed, combined with the adjacent railway level crossing at Norton Road, has resulted in some significant congestion. There are 10 intersections along this 2km section of Avalon Drive and only 2 of them are signalled. The difficulties in pulling out of the unsignalled intersections have resulted in a significant number of drivers taking short cuts through the local streets in Nawton to come out at the signalised junctions, which are heavily congested at peak times. A busy state highway passing through a built up urban area can also constitute an increased safety risk for local inhabitants, degrade the environment of the community, and create a severance effect within the community. It also impedes the passage of through traffic, increasing travel time and costs for people and freight. The new bypass will reduce congestion, improve safety, and redirect inter-regional state highway traffic away from internal city traffic.

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2. Why are there only two lanes?

Modelling of traffic flows show that two lanes will be adequate for some time. However, provision has been made within the project’s current land designation for a further two lanes to be added as future traffic demand requires.

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3. Why don’t we just widen the existing road?

Widening of the existing road was considered as an option but was discarded as the frequency of private accesses and side roads to the highway meant that the there would be little improvement to congestion or amenity to the residents in the area.

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4. Why does Norton Road go under the railway instead of over it?

Norton Road needs to intersect with the new bypass road, Rifle Range Road and Lincoln Street – and all these roads rise as they approach the existing intersection. If Norton Road was to pass over the railway lines all these roads would need to be raised to an elevated intersection, and would also need to be much longer. The electrification gantries for this section of the railway would also require a much higher road overbridge. Both a road overbridge and underpass were evaluated as options during the project design process and the option of the road passing under the railway was determined to be much more economical, less noisy and less visually intrusive.

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5. What will happen to the bypassed section of the existing Avalon Drive, between Rotokauri and Norton Roads?

This will remain as a local road administered by Hamilton City Council (HCC), with improved safety and access for pedestrians and cyclists.

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6. How is construction going to be staged?

Construction commenced at the northern end of the project in February 2007. During 2007 most of the construction activity will be focused on the new Rotokauri roundabout at the northern end of the Bypass, and work will also commence in the Waitawhiririwhiriri Gully and at Forest Lake Road. The new Norton Road roundabout is scheduled for construction in 2008. The whole project is scheduled for completion in February 2009.

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7. Why does Norton Road  have to close? Can’t a temporary level crossing be provided away from the bridge construction site to enable traffic to continue crossing from Lincoln Street to Norton Road during the construction period?

Options for providing a temporary level crossing adjacent to the bridge site to maintain the connection between Norton Road and Lincoln Street (SH1) were closely investigated by both Transit and ONTRACK. It was determined that a crossing at the correct level could not easily be provided due to the extent of the construction works. The track realignment works required for the construction of the rail bridge extends over a length of 200 metres over both sides of the bridge site, and there is no suitable location for a level crossing that would not conflict with construction. The only possible site for a temporary level crossing between the construction works and the refuse transfer station would not provide adequate visibility or queuing room for vehicles crossing the rail tracks, and would therefore not be safe.

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8. Why does the Norton Road intersection have to be closed for so long?

During the closure period the following construction activities must be undertaken in sequence:

  1. Temporary rail infrastructure and rail tracks must be constructed on the eastern side of the construction site across Norton Road
  2. The train operations must be diverted to the new tracks and safety screens installed around the bridge construction site
  3. The bridge area must be cleared of the existing tracks and infrastructure
  4. The bridge must be constructed, including the foundations, abutments and deck
  5. The rails must be realigned back onto the bridge deck with new electrification gantries and signalling equipment
  6. The train operations must be diverted to their permanent alignment over the bridge deck
  7. The temporary tracks, infrastructure and safety screens must be removed
  8. Excavation will then be carried out underneath the rail bridge to form the road
  9. The lowering of Lincoln Street and construction of the new Norton Roundabout will be undertaken at the same time as the construction of the rail bridge. It is expected that the roundabout and its connections to Lincoln Street and the Avalon Drive Bypass will be completed prior to the connection of Norton Road.
  10. The road drainage, kerbing, pavement, surfacing, markings and signs need to be completed before Norton Road can be re-opened and connected to the new roundabout. Traffic will then be able to use the underpass
  11. Finishing work for footpaths, wall cladding and lighting will be undertaken after Norton Road is opened to traffic.

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9. What will happen to rail traffic during the construction of the rail bridge?

During construction of the rail bridge the number of tracks will temporarily be reduced to two and these will be diverted to the eastern side of the construction site. This will require the installation of electrification gantries and the construction of temporary tracks and signalling. After the bridge is completed the tracks will be re-diverted to their present (and permanent) alignment, and will be supported by the bridge.

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10. Will the six tracks currently crossing Norton Road all be placed on the new bridge?

With the construction of the new container terminal at the end of Crawford Street the number of tracks will be reduced to three, and the new bridge will carry three tracks.

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11. Who will undertake the works?

ONTRACK will undertake all rail infrastructure works including track realignments, signalling and gantry relocations. Transit will undertake all road construction work, including the construction of the bridge and the lowering and reconstruction of Norton Road. Services, including water, electricity, and communications, will be relocated by the relevant utility companies prior to the works commencing.

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12. How many vehicles currently turn into Norton Road from Lincoln Street or Rifle Range Road?

Approximately 6,000 vehicles per day enter Norton Road from the west and a similar number exit from Norton Road into Lincoln Street or Rifle Range Road.

By comparison Lincoln Street (SH1) carries approximately 25,000 vehicles per day.

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13. The Norton Road intersection is currently my main route to work. What alternative routes can I take while it’s closed?

Alternative routes are available using Forest Lake Road or the Massey Street overbridge. Please keep in mind that both these routes will be carrying additional diverted traffic, and travel times are likely to be slower. It is recommended that you attempt to arrange your travel for off peak periods if possible, or allow additional time for your journey.

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14. My children attend Maeroa Intermediate School and their main way of getting there is by walking or cycling over the rail level crossing on Norton Road. How will they get to school when this end of Norton Road is closed, and will it be safe?

Transit and Hamilton City Council are working together to enable parents and students to safety access Maeroa Intermediate during the closure of Norton Road, and will be implementing the following measures:

  • The provision of a safe signposted route around the western edge (Dinsdale side) of the construction site from Rifle Range Road to the signal-controlled crossing at the Lincoln Street/Ellicott Road/ Forest Lake Road intersection. This will enable pedestrians and cyclists to safety cross from the Ellicott Road side of Lincoln Street onto the new footpath in Forest Lake Road.
  • The construction of a new footpath on the southern (Rimu Street) side of Forest Lake Road, which will enable pedestrians to walk from Lincoln Street to Rimu Street without having to cross Forest Lake Road.
  • The construction of a roundabout at the Rimu Street/Maeroa Road intersection, with pedestrian facilities on all four approaches to enable pedestrians and cyclists to safely cross Rimu Street and Maeroa Road.
  • Priority turning at the intersection of Maeroa Road and Norton Road for traffic turning into and out of Maeroa Road.

A diagram of the traffic management measures and pedestrian and cycle pathways that will be available during the works is available to download here.

Although this route will be a little longer than the previous route through Norton Road, it is considered considerably safer as it does not require school students to cross the busy Norton Road or the North Island Main Trunk railway.

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15. How will the closure of the Norton Road intersection affect the V8 Super Cars event?

This is still to be determined but any effects will only be for a short period of time during the lead up to and the running of the V8 Supercar event. Transit is working closely with the Hamilton City Council to develop a traffic management plan to enable access to the event with minimal disruption.

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16. Why doesn't the project include the Wintec end of Avalon Drive, and what are Transit's plans for relieving congestion there?

The Avalon Drive Bypass is one component of a strategy to upgrade the western SH1 corridor of Hamilton. The western corridor is the existing SH1 through Hamilton serving the city's commercial and industrial hub and providing connections to the Crawford Street Rail Village. It also links to SH23 to Raglan and SH3 to Taranaki. As part of the western corridor strategy, the Te Rapa Bypass is also currently being investigated and is planned to commence construction within five years. This project will consider and address the congestion issues around and north of Wintec and will also consider the linkages to the Avalon Drive Bypass project. Over the next three years Transit will also be addressing a number of key intersections south of the Avalon Drive Bypass project, including: Killarney Road and Greenwood Street (SH1), Ohaupo Road (SH3) and Kahikatea Drive (SH1), and Cambridge Road (SH1) and Morrinsville Road (SH26).

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