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This length of State Highway 1 is the main southern road access to Auckland, and links New Zealand’s ‘Golden Triangle’ of population and economic growth - Auckland, Waikato and the Bay of Plenty.
The Waikato Expressway will:
- Reduce travel times by at least 20 minutes between Cambridge and Mercer, and 10 minutes between Hamilton and Mercer.
- Significantly reduce the number of fatal and serious injury crashes.
- Increase the highway’s capacity and passing opportunities.
- Reduce traffic congestion (eg within Huntly).
- Bypass the urban areas of Ohinewai, Huntly, Taupiri, Ngaruawahia, Hamilton and Cambridge.
- Reduce fuel costs on this route by millions of dollars each year.
The expressway is being constructed in sections as priorities are determined and funding becomes available.
Two sections of the Waikato expressway have been completed: Mercer to Longswamp and Rangiriri to South of Ohinewai.
