The Hamilton Southern Links project aims to develop an effective transport network of state highways and local roads to support Hamilton’s planned growth. The route has been designated with investigation work getting underway.
The proposed project scope for Hamilton Southern Links is a transport network consisting of state highways and local roads linking State Highway 1 Waikato Expressway at Tamahere and western Hamilton.
In October 2025, the NZTA Board endorsed the Hamilton Southern Links Investment Case, approving funding for the pre-implementation phase.
This includes site investigation, consenting and design which allows the project to be progressed to a delivery-ready state over the coming years.
To maintain productivity and livability, Hamilton needs resilient, high-capacity transport infrastructure to support the Waikato Region’s growth plans, with an extra 224,000 people expected to be living in the region by 2048.
Hamilton Southern Links will support this growth by unlocking access to land for business and residential development in the south-west Hamilton, Peacocke and Hamilton Airport areas.
In 2024, HSL was identified in the Government Policy Statement on land transport (GPS 2024) as a Road of National Significance.
Government Policy Statement on land transport(external link)
During 2025, NZTA developed an Investment Case for Hamilton Southern Links which determined the recommended delivery path for the project covering design, consenting, funding and proposed construction staging.
This recommended building the project in stages, allowing us to address access and resilience, while spreading the cost of construction over time and multiple National Land Transport Programme periods, providing a steady flow of work for contractors and local businesses.
The recommended stages are:
Widening Greenwood Street from 2 lanes to 4 lanes from Kahikatea Drive to Killarney Road. A new roundabout at the Greenwood/Kahikatea intersection, with a short section of road and a proposed new roundabout allowing access to the SL1 industrial development area. SL1 is a planned industrial and residential development on the south-western outskirts of Hamilton, bordering the suburbs of Melville, Glenview and the existing development areas of Peacocke and Hamilton Airport.
CloseA new interchange on SH1 Waikato Expressway between the Pickering Road Overbridge and Tamahere Interchange, with the road heading west on a new bridge over the Waikato River to connect with a new interchange to be built where Hamilton Southern Links meets SH21.
CloseThe largest stage in road length, this connects the new industrial area roundabout at Greenwood Corner with SH3 and incudes an overbridge of the North Island Main Trunk railway line and SH3.
CloseThe final stage completes the east-west connection, including building a new central interchange to connect to Hamilton City Council’s Peacocke growth area. It will also see a new stretch of road from the SH3/SH21 roundabout to connect at the central interchange.
CloseThe Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS 2024) requires NZTA to consider tolling for all new roads.
The Investment Case for Hamilton Southern Links recommends tolling to support the construction and maintenance of the project.
Once NZTA has completed further planning and design, the next step is to seek approval from the Minister of Transport to proceed to public consultation on tolling Hamilton Southern Links.
If approved, public consultation will occur once construction funding is confirmed.
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