SH1 Waikato Expressway Hampton Downs to Tamahere speed review

Project introduction

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is seeking public input into proposals to set permanent new speed limits on State Highway 1 Waikato Expressway, between Hampton Downs and Tamahere.

Consultation for this speed review closed on Tuesday 23 November. We are reviewing the submissions we have received and will provide a summary of feedback and our decision on any permanent speed limit changes within the coming months.

Thank you to those who have made a submission.

Project type

Speed review

Project updates

Korero mai - have your say on Waikato Expressway speed limits

Media release, 27 October 2021

What we know

The Waikato Expressway is a key strategic transport corridor for the Waikato region, connecting Auckland to the agricultural and business centres of the central North Island. It will improve economic growth and productivity through safer, more efficient movement of people and freight.

The Government invests heavily in our transport system and has upgraded many state highways with a focus on making them safer and more efficient.

When completed, the Waikato Expressway will improve safety, reliability and reduce travel times and congestion on State Highway 1 by delivering a four-lane highway from the Bombay Hills to south of Cambridge.

Some of the more recently completed sections of the Waikato Expressway are built to very high safety standards. Because these roads have features that make it safer for travelling at higher speeds, the speed limit may be set to a higher limit than other state highways.

In late 2017, following consultation, the speed limit on the Cambridge section of the Waikato Expressway was increased to 110km/h.

The Huntly, Longswamp and Rangiriri sections of the Waikato Expressway have been designed and built to be safely operated at 110km/h.

The Hamilton section, which is due to open in 2022, will also able to be safely operated at 110km/h.

Waka Kotahi is now preparing to upgrade the remaining sections so when finished, from Hampton Downs to south of Cambridge, the Waikato Expressway will meet the necessary design and safety standards for a 110km/h speed limit.

What we’re proposing

Location	Current speed limit	Proposed speed limit
SH1 southbound. From approximately 650 m north of Hampton Downs Road overbridge to approximately 1.3 km south of Tamahere interchange (Airport Road).	100 km/h	110 km/h
SH1 northbound. From approximately 1.3 km south of Tamahere Interchange (Airport Road) to approximately 650 m north of Hampton Downs Road overbridge.	100 km/h	110 km/h
1. Hampton Downs Interchange	100 km/h	Southbound off-ramp: 110 km/h until approximately 130 m before the limit line. Northbound off-ramp: 110 km/h until approximately 100 m before the limit line and 80 km/h beyond this point, for the reminder of the ramp. On-ramps: 110 km/h from approximately 100 m before the concrete nose.
2. Te Kauwhata Interchange	100 km/h	Southbound off-ramp: 110 km/h until approximately 130 m before the limit line and 80 km/h beyond this point, for the reminder of the ramp. Northbound off-ramp: 110 km/h until approximately 200 m before the limit line and 80 km/h beyond this point, for the reminder of the ramp. On-ramps: 110 km/h from approximately 100 m before the concrete nose.
3. Rangiriri Interchange	100 km/h	Off-ramps: 110 km/h until approximately 70 m before the limit line and 50 km/h beyond this point, for the reminder of the ramp. On-ramps: 110 km/h from approximately 100m before the concrete nose.
4. Armitage Road	100 km/h	Off-road slip lane: 110 km/h until approximately 20 m past concrete nose. On-road slip lane: 110km/h from approximately 20m past Paetai Road.
5. Ōhinewai Interchange	100 km/h	Off-ramps: 110 km/h until approximately 160 m before the limit line. On-ramps: 110 km/h from approximately 100 m before the concrete nose.
6. Huntly Northern Interchange	100 km/h	Off-ramps: 110 km/h until approximately 100 m past the concrete nose. On-ramps: 110 km/h from approximately 100 m before the concrete nose.
7. Taupiri Scientific Reserve	100 km/h	Proposed 30 km/h within the Scientific Reserve carpark. Off-road slip lane: 110 km/h until approximately 100 m past the concrete nose. On-road slip lane: 110 km/h from approximately 10 m before the concrete nose.
8. Gordonton Road (Taupiri) Interchange	100 km/h	Southbound off-ramp: 110 km/h until approximately 110 m before the limit line. Northbound off-ramp: 110 km/h until approximately 130 m before the limit line. On-ramps: 110 km/h from approximately 100 m before the concrete nose.
9. Hamilton Northern Interchange	To be constructed	Off-ramps: 110 km/h until approximately 100 m past the concrete nose On-ramps: 110 km/h from approximately 100 m before the concrete nose.
10. Resolution Drive Interchange	To be constructed	Off-ramps: 110 km/h until approximately 110 m before the limit line and 80 km/h beyond this point, for the reminder of the ramp. On-ramps: 110 km/h from approximately 100 m before the concrete nose.
11. Greenhill Interchange	To be constructed	Southbound off-ramp: 110 km/h until approximately 150 m before the limit line and 80 km/h beyond this point, for the reminder of the ramp. Northbound off-ramp: 110 km/h until approximately 130 m before the limit line and 80 km/h beyond this point, for the reminder of the ramp. On-ramps: 110 km/h from approximately 100 m before the concrete nose.
12. Ruakura Interchange	To be constructed	Off-ramps: 110 km/h until approximately 80 m before the limit line and 60 km/h beyond this point, for the reminder of the ramp. On-ramps: 110 km/h from approximately 100 m before the concrete nose.
13. Hamilton Southern Interchange	To be constructed	Northbound off-ramp: 110 km/h until approximately 200 m past the concrete nose. East-West southbound link off-ramp: 60 km/h to Bollard Road Extension. Southbound on-ramp: 110 km/h from intersection with East-West southbound link.
14. Tamahere Interchange	100 km/h	Southbound off-ramp: 110 km/h until approximately 110 m before the limit line and 80 km/h beyond this point, for the reminder of the ramp. Northbound off-ramp: 110 km/h until approximately 70m before the limit line and 80 km/h beyond this point, for the reminder of the ramp. Northbound on-ramp: 110 km/h from north of Devine Road intersection. Southbound on-ramp: 110 km/h from approximately 100 m before the concrete nose.

Footnotes:

Concrete nose: A concrete nose is found at the exit and entry point of on and off ramps. It forms part of the area that separates the on/off ramp with expressway through traffic.

Limit line: A line marked on the surface of the road, indicating the place where traffic must stop to comply with a stop sign, give-way sign, pedestrian crossing, school crossing or traffic signal.