New start for troubled Cambridge Connections

Tuesday, 15 April 2025

Leamington Bridge in Cambridge cannot take trucks or buses, with a 3m height limit.

A controversial Cambridge transport plan which was panned after a lack of consultation on a new bridge location is getting a ‘reset’, with hopes a newly appointed executive will lead the project to calmer waters.

Cambridge local Katie Mayes has been appointed to lead the reset.

Waipā District Council announced in early April Cambridge local Kate Mayes would be leading the reset of the troubled Cambridge Connections plan, and will be joining council ranks as executive director on Monday May 5.

Cambridge High Level Bridge connecting Cambridge and Leamington.

Chief Executive Steph O’Sullivan said Mayes - who is currently NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi’s national manager system planning and investment - would bring a “collaborative spirit and commitment to finding win-win solutions” that would be “invaluable” going forward.

Chairperson of the Cambridge community board Jo Davies-Colley said Cambridge Connections is the thing she gets asked about the most.

“I'll be standing on the side of a sports ground, and someone will come and say to me, hey, what's happening with Cambridge Connections?”

Waipā district Mayor Susan O'Regan Mayor and chief executive Steph O'Sullivan.

After a few years of start and stop on plans, she said people were “ready” for the project to move forward, but there was still “uncertainty” lingering from the previous communication from council.

Chair of the Cambridge Community Board Jo Davies-Colley says the cycle path has been great for easing school related congestion.

The 30-year plan to develop the town’s transport services and infrastructure was put on hold in August 2024 after problems including a drop-in session shutting down 50 minutes early after heated and testy exchanges, and community complaints about not being involved in the plan’s development.

The plan had included an “emerging preferred option” of a new bridge connecting the town and Leamington which was later pulled after backlash.

O’Sullivan announced the reset of the project in November 2024, with Mayor Susan O’Regan acknowledging “mistakes had been made” which resulted in the loss of trust from the community.

Cambridge resident Malcolm Haig with his dog Maddy.

Five months later, the congestion issues in the growing town haven’t faded, and Council is ready to have another crack.

Davies-Colley says while people were keen for the congestion issues to be addressed, there was still anxiety about where the bridge would go.

“The community board hopes that the process will be really slowed down and the community will be alongside that process right from the beginning.”

But for some members of the community the Waikato Times spoke to, council had some work to do to do win back their trust.

Local resident Malcolm Haig said he felt the council had stopped listening to feedback from residents, and weren’t engaging enough.

“The experts never ever listen to people like me who live here.”

Waipā district council spent $10.2M on a pathway extension for Cambridge linking schools, the velodrome and housing which completed early this year.

Haig said the congestion was “really bad”, particular in the mornings and afternoons.

“It's jammed past the white church all the way along Hamilton Road.”

Another local who preferred not be named said it was “nose to tail” across the bridge on a Saturday, and the town had seen “incredible” growth in the last six years.

She said a lot of consideration had been given to cyclists, and it was time motorists were given consideration too.