Minister celebrates first traffic over Piarere roundabout

Thursday, 26 September 2024

While far from finished, drivers are now travelling around a major new roundabout between Hamilton and Tauranga

A major step in safety improvements between Hamilton and Tauranga has been taken with motorists and freight now navigating the $40 million roundabout at the intersection of state highways 1 and 29 in Piarere.

It’s replacing a notoriously dangerous T-intersection.

Transport Minister Simeon Brown said it marks a major milestone for one of the Government’s Roads of Regional Significance that will improve safety and reliability for motorists and freight using this strategic corridor.

'Great progress has been made on the construction of this 60-metre-wide roundabout since we kicked off construction in January this year to improve safety and wait times for people travelling through the Waikato.

SH29/SH1 roundabout has two temporary approaches in action now.

“While construction on the roundabout continues, the roundabout has opened with two temporary approaches now in action.”

The two-lane roundabout is a future-proofed design with a fourth leg to be added for a potential expressway extension.

The new intersection will have safer connections between SH29 and SH1 with median islands on the approaches to encourage reduced speed. There will be underpasses for walking and cycling, an improved stormwater system, street lighting and landscaping.

“The Government is committed to delivering infrastructure that boosts economic growth, reduces congestion, and creates a safer and more reliable transport network,” Brown said.

Transport Minister Simeon Brown confirmed there’s significant progress being made on the Piarere roundabout, south of Cambridge.

The section of road sees more than 2500 heavy commercial vehicles and 25,000 cars travel through the “pinch point” every day.

Construction is expected to be finished mid-2025.

The roundabout has been strategically designed to connect into a new Road of National Significance between Cambridge and Piarere.

“Our Government is prioritising a four-lane upgrade of SH1 from Cambridge to Piarere, a critical Road of National Significance that was put on hold under the previous government. Reviving this upgrade will enable Kiwis and freight to get where they want to go quickly and safely, supporting economic growth and boosting productivity.”

New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi said while the final design for the expressway extension hasn’t been finalised, it is proposed that the expressway will include a new interchange at Karapiro Road.

There’s also likely to be four other bridges – three of them over existing gullies and one overbridge providing access to a realigned local road at Tunakawa Road.

They say subject to funding, planning approvals and other permits, property acquisition and final design, they expect the first phase of construction to start in late 2026 and construction is expected to take approximately six to seven years.

Meanwhile, from Piarere to Tīrau there will be night closures over the next three weeks.

NZTA said to allow for a major road renewal project both lanes will be closed between 7pm and 6am from Sunday to Thursday, through to October 18.

During this period all night-time traffic will be required to detour. SH1 will reopen to all traffic during the day and remain open all day and night Fridays and Saturdays.

During closures all vehicles will detour via Hinuera using SH29 and SH27 adding approximately 10 minutes to journey times.

Emergency services will always have full access through the worksites as required, while resident access will be maintained at all times during the works, however residents will need to liaise with traffic control teams onsite during each nightly closure.