SH1 Cambridge to Piarere

To investigate long-term improvements in the safety of SH1 between Cambridge and Piarere.

Background

The SH1 Cambridge to Piarere long-term project has been revised to prioritise safety and access on the existing state highway, and include a range of short, medium and long-term improvements. This follows a re-evaluation process completed in November 2018.

The Transport Agency plans to enhance safety improvements already under way. The additional improvements are likely to include central median and further side barriers, and providing safer access to the communities living along this section and to the local roads. These improvements will reduce the number of serious crashes and the impact of crashes if they do occur.

The long-term strategic route to extend the Waikato Expressway to Piarere will be confirmed through the completion of the business case. This will also include the best solution for the intersection upgrade at SH1/SH29, and once confirmed, the upgrade can get under way, subject to funding.

The Transport Agency will continue to monitor the route to determine when construction of the new route is required. Timings and next steps for this project will be confirmed in early-2019.

Short-term safety improvements

With the completion of the Cambridge section of the Waikato Expressway and increasing volumes of traffic using this section of SH1, short-term safety improvements are needed on this part of SH1.

The Safe Roads Alliance works are now under way and include:

• trimming vegetation and moving fences to improve visibility at Ferguson Gully Road
• installation of new street light at the Fergusson Gully Rd intersection
• building a right-turn bay at Keeley Reserve
• moving the Karapiro Road bus stop
• moving the Karapiro School bus stop to a safer location
• installing electronic warning signs at the SH1/SH29 intersection.

Read more at the Safe Roads Alliance page.