Frequently Asked Questions
- What is an expressway?
- What is the Waikato Expressway?
- Why is it called the Waikato Expressway?
- Why do we need an expressway?
- What benefits will this project bring?
- When will the expressway be built?
- How many vehicles will use the expressway?
- Will Hamilton roads be affected by increased traffic from the expressway?
- How much noise will the expressway generate?
- What is being done now to deal with SH 1 congestion in Hamilton?
- If some stages are not going to be built for 10 years or more, why bother identifying the route now?
1. What is an expressway?
The Waikato Expressway will be similar to the existing expressway from Pokeno to Ohinewai and at Tamahere, near Hamilton. An expressway looks similar to a motorway, and generally features two lanes of traffic flowing in each direction. These traffic flows are separated by a grass median strip or crash barrier to prevent head-on crashes. Cyclists and pedestrians are still able to use expressways.
2. What is the Waikato Expressway?
An expressway is in place from the end of Auckland’s Southern Motorway at the top of the Bombay Hills to Longswamp and from Rangiriri to Ohinewai. The Waikato Expressway will eventually extend that expressway south to Cambridge.
The expressway will eventually bypass all urban areas, including Ohinewai, Huntly, Taupiri, Ngaruawahia, Hamilton and Cambridge.
3. Why is it called the Waikato Expressway?
Transit New Zealand has adopted this name for a number of reasons.
This project will be built in stages over an extended time period. Adopting this name will clearly identify each stage as part of the same overall strategy.
There are other four-laning and arterial projects proposed in and around Hamilton. The name "Waikato Expressway" will eliminate any confusion with other projects.
4. Why do we need an expressway?
The current highway is congested. This increases journey times and leads to frustration and crashes. The Waikato region has clearly indicated in its Regional Land Transport Strategy that the number one transport issue for the region is to build the Waikato Expressway as soon as possible.
5. What benefits will this project bring?
- Typical travelling times will be cut by at least 20 minutes (Cambridge to Mercer) and 10 minutes (Hamilton to Mercer).
- The capacity of the highway will be increased.
- Waikato and Auckland motorists and businesses will benefit from reduced travelling times and lower costs. There are also benefits to road users from other parts of New Zealand who use this route.
- Fuel costs on this route will be reduced by millions of dollars each year.
6. When will the expressway be built?
Construction of the Rangiriri to South of Ohinewai section and the Mercer to Long Swamp section is already completed.
Other sections are being progressed through either the designation or design process, and construction will be considered once these processes are complete and funding is available.
7. How many vehicles will use the expressway?
The largest volumes are expected to be 16,000-20,000 vehicles per day (by 2016) in areas where there are no alternative routes available, e.g. South of Mercer.
The lowest volumes are expected where the Waikato Expressway bypasses Hamilton, because the majority of vehicles using SH 1 intend to stop in Hamilton. Approximately 14,000 vehicles are expected to use the route bypassing Hamilton each day by 2016.
8. Will Hamilton roads be affected by increased traffic from the expressway?
Yes, but not beyond their current capacity. The expressway is designed to meet the needs of inter-regional through traffic, rather than providing shortcuts for city motorists. Expect approximately 4200 vehicles a day (by 2016) to use SH 26 (Morrinsville Rd) to get on or off the expressway. The new Greenhill Rd interchange will feed about 11,000 vehicles into the city by 2016, primarily onto the proposed Wairere Drive Extension.
9. How much noise will the expressway generate?
For city and rural dwellers, traffic noise is expected to be minimal.
Because vehicles are generally travelling through the area without accelerating or decelerating, noise will be, at most, a fairly constant background hum in some areas.
Transit is looking to restrict noise levels for most rural properties. This can be achieved using a buffer width between the expressway and homes, plus noise mounds and solid fences to absorb or deflect noise. In some areas (e.g. Horsham Downs) the road will run below neighbouring properties, which will contain traffic noise.
The standard Transit is aiming for will keep the noise below nuisance levels for the vast majority of the population. However, different people have different sensitivity levels to noise, so while the majority may not be affected by the traffic noise, it may be more obvious to some.
10. What is being done now to deal with SH1 congestion in Hamilton?
Transit is developing a number of city arterial projects to increase capacity on the current State Highway.
These projects include:
- Four-laning of Te Rapa Rd (SH1) between Church Road and Avalon Drive including an upgrade of the Te Rapa Rd/Avalon Drive intersection (under construction).
- Te Rapa bypass, a bypass from Te Rapa Road to the west (under investigation).
- Avalon Drive (SH1) Bypass between Rotokauri Rd and Norton Rd (construction to begin 2007).
- Southern Links. A strategy study to consider the future southern arterial links into the city network (under investigation).
- Intersection upgrades at:
- Killarney Road (in designation phase)
- SH1/SH3 Ohaupo Rd (in designation phase)
- Hillcrest and Morrinsville Rd roundabouts (under investigation)
11. If some stages are not going to be built for 10 years or more, why bother identifying the route now?
For a number of reasons:
- To inform property owners where the future expressway will be built.
- To protect the best route from conflicting development.
- To maximise the benefits of the route for road users (shortest route, fuel savings, etc).
- To more accurately estimate project costs and understand risks.
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