Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is upgrading the intersection of SH1C Cobham Drive and Cambridge Road, making it safer for everyone and improving traffic flows in this busy Hamilton city neighbourhood.
State Highway 1C at Cobham Drive and Cambridge Road is a four-lane road in an urban residential area, with pedestrian and cyclist activity crossing and adjacent to the highway.
SH1C is used for commuting and to a lesser extent, moving freight, and there are a variety of different road users. There are also vulnerable road users in this section of highway, including walkers, cyclists and particularly tamariki and their caregivers who walk, scoot and bike to Hillcrest Normal Primary School.
The previous roundabout at the intersection was a pinch point for Hamilton traffic, particularly those travelling between the central city and Cambridge, and was no longer fit for purpose due to increasing traffic volumes and flows.
The proximity of Hillcrest Normal School adds to traffic volumes at pick-up and drop-off times, and tamariki and their caregivers are only able to cross Cambridge Road in front of the school via a narrow underpass with limited sightlines.
The changes to the intersection, together with the completion of the Waikato Expressway and the Cobham Drive interchange, are the final pieces to allow the benefits of the Hamilton Ring Road to be fully realised and will reduce the traffic that uses Cambridge Road as a shortcut through Hillcrest.
Overall, this will mean much safer and more comfortable crossing for pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable users, especially tamariki and their caregivers.
While this work is underway the road will remain open; however, traffic management will be in place and a speed restriction of 30km/hr. At times the road may be reduced to one lane in each direction.
During the works, local Cambridge Road will operate as left in and left out only. Johnsview Terrace will also be left-in, left-out until the works are complete.
There is also a new, permanent layout – there is no longer an option to turn right from local Cambridge Road into Cobham Drive. People wanting to head west along SH1C from local Cambridge Road should instead travel north to Wairere Drive and use the Cobham Drive interchange.
Works plan
View larger works plan map [PDF, 2.4 MB]
Bus route changes
As part of this project, the bus shelter outside Hillcrest School will be relocated and bus routes modified both during construction and after completion. Several bus routes that use this intersection will have short detours on their incoming (Hamilton-bound) journeys until the work is completed. These are the 10 Hillcrest, 17 Hamilton Gardens Uni, 20 Cambridge and 22 Eastern Connector services.
Work began on 4 January 2023 and is expected to be completed by August 2023.
