Waikato Expressway - History

History

While not officially designated as the Waikato Expressway until the early 2000s, the upgrading of State Highway 1 from the Bombay Hills to Mercer from 1992 to 1993 can be considered to be the first step in the construction of the expressway. During this upgrade, State Highway 1 from the end of the Southern Motorway to just north of Mercer was upgraded from two lanes to four, with fully grade separated interchanges constructed at Bombay and the junction with State Highway 2 just north of the township of Pokeno. A bypass of Pokeno was also constructed at this time, as well as several partially separated interchanges to allow access for local property owners along the route.

The next stage of the Waikato Expressway to be completed was the Rangiriri to Ohinewai section in 2003. The northern half of this section follows the pre-existing highway while the southern half of this section deviates from the original highway in order to bypass Ohinewai and features a diamond interchange on Tahuna Rd.

The Mercer to Longswamp section continues on from the existing expressway between the Bombay Hills and Mercer and was opened in July 2006. This section uses the existing two lane section of State Highway one as a carriageway for northbound traffic, while a separate carriageway for southbound traffic was constructed in parallel. A grade separated interchange at Mercer was also constructed, incorporating an overpass for the southbound lanes to cross over the Main trunk railway at this point.

As the two dual carriageway sections of the expressway (Bombay Hills to Longswamp and Rangiriri to Ohinewai) are not continuous, the section of highway between Longswamp and Rangiriri was upgraded to a 2+1 road in 2005 with the intention of upgrading this section to four lanes in the future.

In 2009 the Waikato Expressway was announced by New Zealand's minister of Transport, Steven Joyce, as being one of seven "Roads of national significance".

The Mangaharakeke Drive bypass, originally known as the Te Rapa Bypass, was opened on 3 December 2012 (ahead of its 2013 schedule). Currently running from the existing State Highway 1 south to Te Rapa the bypass will eventually be extended northbound to connect with the Ngauruawahia bypass.

Construction of the section of the expressway between Taupiri and Te Rapa (the Ngaruawahia bypass) began in late 2011 and is due for completion in 2013.

Progress on the other sections of the expressway has also continued, with funding approved for the Rangiriri and Tamahere - Cambridge sections in December 2012. Construction for these sections is expected to begin in 2013.