Ngaruawahia Bypass - coughing into life

[Riggles]

I noticed that the next section of the Waikato Expressway is has started construction.

Construction is coughing into life on the next stage of the Waikato Expressway, a $150 million four-lane bypass of Ngaruawahia, promising a faster and safer link between Taupiri and Hamilton.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/transport/news/article.cfm?c_id=97&objectid=10755771

Currently this project seems to be pretty top secret in comparison to other NZTA projects with very little detail as to what the actual design is going to look like.

[Dion]

Indeed, it is very strange that the Huntly Bypass has a fly over and road view video available whereas there is nothing similar for this project.

[geoff_184]

Technically, the bypass project began nearly a year ago, when they removed numerous houses from Taupiri and began building two large roundabouts, which are now nearing completion.

[Riggles]

Technically, the bypass project began nearly a year ago, when they removed numerous houses from Taupiri and began building two large roundabouts, which are now nearing completion.

That was stage 1, its stage 2 that I'm more interested in.

[jamie.h]

its more than coughing into life.

Its going full steam ahead. Huge amount of land being moved daily between Taupiri and Horotiu.

The te rapa section looks awesome with much of it looking like its just waiting on the construction of all the bridges

[Riggles]

Does anyone know what's going on with this project?

I'm rather interested to see how its going and maybe even a few photos but it seems this project is as mysterious as Area 51.

The last bit of news I've seen on the NZTA website is dated over a year ago and the one time I emailed NZTA asking for some information I never got a reply.

It seems there is quite a disparity in the amount of information NZTA gives out on projects within different Regions, Auckland notably being rather vocal and the Waikato apparently on a "need to know" basis only.

[geoff_184]

I think they want this one under the radar to downplay the fact they are building not one, but two expressways into Hamilton from the north. The existing road does actually handle the current traffic ok, so replacing 2 lanes with 10 lanes might get some people up in arms?

I note NZTA refer to both expressways as the "Waikato Expressway", so it always sounds like they are talking about one route. Although I do note in recent months they have started making the odd reference to the "Waikato Expressway Network", which I suppose infers it is more than just one expressway.

Here's the currently under construction "Te Rapa Section" of the Waikato Expressway. Note in the top right, the "Hamilton Section" of the Waikato Expressway, which is next to be built. So actually two expressways, each with four lanes, accessing Hamilton. One expressway for West Hamilton and one expressway for East Hamilton. Plus of course the existing route stays, so ten lanes replacing two.

Loads of money at NZTA!

[Matt L]

It seems there is quite a disparity in the amount of information NZTA gives out on projects within different Regions, Auckland notably being rather vocal and the Waikato apparently on a "need to know" basis only.

But then Tauranga has monthly update on youtube and that comes under the same NZTA region

I think they want this one under the radar to downplay the fact they are building not one, but two expressways into Hamilton from the north. The existing road does actually handle the current traffic ok, so replacing 2 lanes with 10 lanes might get some people up in arms?

I note NZTA refer to both expressways as the "Waikato Expressway", so it always sounds like they are talking about one route. Although I do note in recent months they have started making the odd reference to the "Waikato Expressway Network", which I suppose infers it is more than just one expressway.

Where do you get 2 expressways from?

[geoff_184]

Where do you get 2 expressways from?

See edited post above.

[Riggles]

But then Tauranga has monthly update on youtube and that comes under the same NZTA region

What monthly update about what?
Also Tauranga has its own NZTA office.

I think they want this one under the radar to downplay the fact they are building not one, but two expressways into Hamilton from the north. The existing road does actually handle the current traffic ok, so replacing 2 lanes with 10 lanes might get some people up in arms?

Um, have you tried driving down the existing road? Since The Base opened even with the existing one being widened out to 4 lanes it gets all sorts of congestion.

But anyway its rather clear that the Te Rapa section is the main connection to Hamilton and that Hamilton Bypass section is as per its name implies the section that bypasses Hamilton. Also the old two lanes become the Road to Ngaruawahia which is being bypassed, as per the other sections name implies.

I think once its all said and done the bypass will become SH1 and carry on past Cambridge and the Te Rapa section will become SH3 once the Southern Links project is done.

[geoff_184]

But anyway its rather clear that the Te Rapa section is the main connection to Hamilton and that Hamilton Bypass section is as per its name implies the section that bypasses Hamilton

Nope, the Hamilton Section (it's not called the Hamilton Bypass) has four major interchanges along its route, accessing Hamilton. More SH1 traffic will access Hamilton from the Hamilton Section, than from the Te Rapa Section, which will mostly be used by traffic heading to the industrial west, or south to SH3.

[Riggles]

Nope, the Hamilton Section (it's not called the Hamilton Bypass) has four major interchanges along its route, accessing Hamilton. More SH1 traffic will access Hamilton from the Hamilton Section, than from the Te Rapa Section, which will mostly be used by traffic heading to the industrial west, or south to SH3.

I think you will find they are just normal interchanges. There is one major one where they Ngaruawahia bypass head off to Te Rapa and then another one down where the Hamilton section (it was called the Hamilton Bypass when I was working on it about 8 years ago) joins back into the old SH1.

Implying that this Waitkato Expressway is there to provide a motorway for Hamilton is like saying the Oheniwai section is there to provide a motorway for Oheniwai.

[geoff_184]

Implying that this Waitkato Expressway is there to provide a motorway for Hamilton is like saying the Oheniwai section is there to provide a motorway for Oheniwai.

It's there to serve through traffic and traffic to/from Hamilton. If it was only for through traffic, it would be further east. For most people in Hamilton, they will go to/from the city via one of the Hamilton Section interchanges, rather than via the Te Rapa Section.

Point is, there are two expressways which NZTA refers to under the same name, which I don't think a lot of people seem to realise.

[Riggles]

The connection that heads into Hamilton is no big secret, its been on pretty much every single map of the Waikato Expressway since way back in the 70's.

If there was one thing they do advertise well for the Waikato expressway its the general route of the thing. They part they miss out on are the details.

[rail_up]

Oh my...

I have not been down the Waikato for a while now, but had to go to Hamilton end of last week. Once I got past Horotiu, I wondered what I'd struck!
All this development has been going on there unbeknownst to me.
There's damn roundabouts everywhere, one leads into another and another - with connections in all directions.
A large amount of earthworks out to the right in the paddocks and evidence of a raised carriage-way being built.
I managed to get into Hamilton, then turned right at The Base to head over the rail-lines onto the bypass. Heck! There's an over-bridge/underpass, a motorway (in development) and the road layout is all changed!
I think Hamilton must have more traffic lights and roundabouts than anywhere else in NZ!

Amazing stuff.

[Riggles]

Hamilton certainly does have a swarm of roundabouts, its always been one of the things I liked about the place.

There are two projects that are going on down there right now that leads to all the excitement.

The first one that other people may have heard of is the Waikato Expressway which for Hamilton means the Te Rapa Bypass which extends the Avalon Drive bypass that was made just a few years ago.

The other that you may now know of unless you live there is the Hamilton Ring Road which extends the likes of Waiere Drive.

In one way I think its a sign of good planning in that these things were put in place a long time ago with the space being left behind however the issue is that it's based almost entirely around cars and from my understanding does little for PT.

[eurokiwi78]

I think a lot of intersections in NZ would be better served by roundabouts replacing the existing traffic lights.

[Riggles]

Ahh so it seems rather than going to the NZTA website to get information on this project one is meant to go to facebook

http://www.facebook.com/waikatoexpressway

A rather strange option, one would have also thought that if they were going to go to the effort of making a special page that they would provide a few more links to it rather than just one at the bottom of a press release.

And here is the most detailed map I can find of the project.

[Matt L]

If you want detailed maps you would probably need to find the NOR docs with the local council.

[Riggles]

If you want detailed maps you would probably need to find the NOR docs with the local council.

It's a D&C contract so the design would be different from that of the NOR.

I already know what the old design was like anyway, its the one that's getting built that I want to know what it looks like.