Safety will be improved at State Highway 1 and State Highway 29 at Piarere with construction of a new roundabout to replace the existing T-intersection.
In January 2020 funding was approved to upgrade the intersection of SH1 and SH29 at Piarere. This will improve efficiency, connectivity and safety on a high-volume traffic route, which is one of New Zealand’s most critical corridors. The new roundabout is designed to allow connection with the future expressway between Cambridge and Piarere.
SH1 Cambridge to Piarere project
Auckland, Waikato and the Bay of Plenty are part of the Upper North Island’s Golden Triangle, home to more than half of New Zealand’s population. The transport corridors in these regions are critical to support the safe travel of a growing number of visitors and residents, and to get goods to market efficiently.
SH1 between Cambridge and Piarere is part of the key journeys which link Auckland and Hamilton with Tauranga, specifically the Port of Tauranga via SH29, as well as central and lower North Island via SH1.
The new intersection roundabout layout will:
The existing T-intersection is high-risk. Between 1 December 2015 and 30 November 2020, there were 21 crashes within 50m of the T-intersection resulting in 2 fatalities, and 12 crashes involving injuries. The high number of crashes reflects risks taken by road users responding to the intersection layout.
CloseRoundabouts and grade-separated interchanges such as flyovers or slip lanes are valid options for traffic flow and safety but there are important reasons why a roundabout was chosen for this intersection.
A roundabout in this area is the safer option as everyone, whichever direction they approach from, is in a slower speed environment whatever the time of day or night.
Good roundabout design provides equal access and manages energy if a collision does occur, therefore minimising severe injury.
When required, the roundabout will readily connect to the future Cambridge to Piarere expressway.
Having a roundabout at the end of the expressway will signal to drivers that there’s a significant change in the road environment. It will help travellers slow down, assess directions and traffic conditions and adjust their driving from a high-speed expressway back into a 2-lane rural highway.
CloseTwo out of 3 permanent approach roads have now opened on the SH1/SH29 roundabout in Piarere.
Traffic was switched onto the new SH1 (from Tīrau) and SH29 approaches on Tuesday 17 December.
This change sees traffic from all 3 directions using the roundabout and the former tie-in road for Tīrau traffic becomes an access lane for nearby properties.
The temporary Hamilton approach road will remain in use while work continues on the permanent configuration, which is expected to be finished in early 2025.
We thank motorists for their patience and ask drivers to stick to temporary speed limits and take extra care when travelling through the area while people adjust to the new layout.
Construction of the roundabout got underway in January 2024 and is on track to be finished in mid-late 2025. It will have 3 approaches along with a fourth stub for the future expressway.
If you have any questions or comments, please email us at C2P@nzta.govt.nz (Please note this email address is only monitored during business hours).
You can also write to us at:
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi
PO Box 973
Waikato Mail Centre
Hamilton 3240
New Zealand
Get the latest state highway travel information check the Journey Planner website(external link)
Report issues impacting travel call 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49).
