Update 6 July: Due to an unexpected delay in relocating services, the first weekend detour of State Highway 21 southbound has been postponed and will now begin at midday Friday 23 July, running until 5am Monday 26 July.
If required, the detour will be re-established for the following weekend (Friday 30 July – Monday 2 August) in order to complete the work.
24 June 2021: Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Advises State Highway 21 Airport Road near Hamilton will have a southbound detour in place over the weekend of 9 July to 12 July for underpass construction. From midday on Friday 9 July until 5am Monday 12 July southbound traffic on SH21 will be detoured around Tamahere Drive, Day Road and Pencarrow Road. Northbound traffic will remain on SH21, with traffic management and a reduced speed limit through the underpass site near Wiremu Tamihana Drive.
During this closure approximately half the road will be dug up, pre-cast concrete underpass sections will be lowered into place then the gap will be backfilled. The road will reopen to two lanes from 5am on Monday 12 July.
A second closure is scheduled for the weekend of 23 to 26 July to allow for the remainder of the underpass to be built.
Anyone travelling south on SH21 to Hamilton Airport over the weekend of 9 to 12 July is advised to allow extra time for their journey.
The underpass is part of the Cambridge to Hamilton section of the Te Awa shared path(external link), providing a safe and reasonably direct route for cyclists and walkers. Both the path and the underpass are expected to be completed later this year.
Waka Kotahi thanks motorists for their patience.
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