News & Media Releases
Ngaruawahia Bypass design underway
7 January 2008
Work has started on the design of the State Highway 1 Ngaruawahia Bypass, which will further progress the development of the Waikato Expressway.
The project is part of Transit’s commitment to develop the Waikato Expressway as the key strategic transport corridor for the Waikato region.
Transit acting regional manager Kaye Clark says the design process for the Ngaruawahia Bypass, to be carried out by Hamilton’s Bloxam, Burnett and Olliver Ltd, will take it one step closer to construction by refining its design, investigating the soil conditions and obtaining resource consents.
Mrs Clark says, “Transit will be working closely with Waikato District Council, local iwi and all affected landowners to progress the design. This will provide certainty for all residents and stakeholders regarding the specifics of the bypass route and its subsequent effects on the future development of Ngaruawahia and Horotiu.”
The designated bypass route starts immediately south of the Mangawara Stream Bridge on SH1 in Taupiri, turns left onto SH1B on Gordonton Road for approximately 2.6 km, then heads south towards Lake Areare and Lake Road. It then crosses the Waikato River approximately 400m south of the Horotiu Bridge, and rejoins SH1 at Hutchinson Road, just North of the Fonterra dairy factory at Te Rapa.
The 12.5 km Ngaruawahia Bypass will connect to the SH1 Waikato Expressway between the proposed Huntly Bypass to the north and the Hamilton Bypass to the south. It will also connect to the planned Te Rapa Bypass at Horotiu, which is part of the Hamilton Western Corridor route.
Minister of Transport, Hon Annette King says, “The Waikato Expressway is a key deliverable in Transit’s State Highway Plan and I am delighted to see it progress. The Government made a commitment to address the Waikato region’s transport needs in our May 2006 budget, and development of the Waikato Expressway was recognised as an important strategic investment.”
Mayor Peter Harris says Waikato District Council is delighted with the news.
“This is a major section of the new expressway, and with design now underway we can optimistically look forward to construction starting in the foreseeable future. The completion of the Waikato Expressway will be the single biggest factor in promoting growth and progress in the region.
“The Expressway runs through the Waikato District, which is an important economic hub, and will provide vital links between New Zealands’ larger commercial centres and export ports,” Mr Harris says.
The Waikato Expressway is being constructed in sections as priorities are determined and funding becomes available. Two sections of the expressway, at Mercer and Ohinewai, have already been completed. The Cambridge Bypass section is currently being designed and funding has been allocated to design the Rangiriri Bypass.
The design of the Ngaruawahia Bypass is expected to be completed by late 2010. Transit’s 2007/08 State Highway programme indicated that construction could start within the 10-year period it covers.
A map of the Ngaruawahia Bypass route
For more information please contact:
Kaye Clark
Acting Regional Manager
Transit New Zealand
Phn 07 903 5113
Mob 027 279 5751
kay.clark@transit.govt.nz
or
Julie Hannam
Communications Advisor
Transit New Zealand - Hamilton Regional Office
Phn 07 903 5146
Mob 027 294 2649
julie.hannam@transit.govt.nz
Visit us at www.transit govt.nz
Back to news index
All rights reserved. Copyright © 2006.