Maramarua Highway Strategic Development

The long-term aim of the SH2 Maramarua Highway Development Strategy is to develop a four-lane highway from Pokeno to Mangatarata within the next 30 years.

In the short to medium term NZTA aims to:

• Develop interim improvement projects, including two-lane realignments, to improve safety and highway capacity.
• Improve passing opportunities by constructing long passing lanes at regular intervals, where feasible.

The Maramarua Highway is being upgraded in sections as priorities are determined and funding becomes available. Sections of the highway will initially be upgraded as two-lane highways with passing lanes, with provision made for extending them to four lanes, as future demand requires and funding permits.

Key projects to improve safety and passing opportunities along the Maramarua Highway section of SH2 include:

• Heavens Double Passing Lanes (completed October 2006)
• Mangatawhiri Deviation (completed December 2008)
• Maramarua Deviation (Design Underway)
• Kopuku Realignment (Investigation Underway)

The development of the Maramarua Highway will:

• Improve road safety
• Provide safe passing opportunities
• Reduce vehicle travel times along this section of SH2
• Remove peak holiday congestion from the townships of Mangatawhiri and Maramarua