This Road of National Significance (RoNS) project aims to deliver an efficient and reliable connection between Napier and Hastings, which will also improve resilience, capacity and safety.
SH2 Hawke’s Bay Expressway is a 27km existing two-lane lifeline route connecting people to the regional hospital and airport. It forms part of the national freight corridor, connecting Napier Port to the wider Central North Island. The expressway carries 29,000 vehicles a day. Due to the region’s growing population and economy, the expressway is reaching capacity in the central section at peak times.
The Hawke’s Bay Expressway project is included in the Government’s Roads of National Significance (RoNS) programme, outlined as a priority in the 2024–27 Government Policy Statement on Land Transport.
Roads of National Significance
It supports national and regional economic growth and productivity by improving capacity, travel time, reliability and safety. It’ll provide a more efficient route to improve the connection between Napier and Hastings, support residential growth, and help cater to our rural economy, which is heavily reliant on our roads, rail networks and access to the port.
The focus is on the most congested sections of the expressway – between Prebensen Drive and York Road (17.5km). This is the busiest stretch of the expressway, with the most problematic intersections, and it connects the main urban areas of Napier and Hastings.
Focusing investment on the Prebensen Drive to York Road area will contribute to the region’s economic growth and improve safety while delivering strong value for money. Improvements in this area offer the greatest initial benefits and support the outcome of economic growth and productivity.
The first portion of the project focuses on improving the section that is most congested during peak traffic, which is the 6.5km section between the roundabouts at Taradale Road and Pākowhai/Links Road (section 1). The scope includes two new lanes to four-lane this section of the expressway as well as two new overpasses and a new additional bridge. Most of the land required for this work is designated for road already. Construction funding is subject to approval, with a decision expected later this year on whether to proceed with section 1 main construction.
The benefits of four-laning the expressway have been highlighted in reports such as the 2012 Heretaunga Plains Transport Study, the 2015 NZTA Napier Port Access business case and others.
