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Waikato Expressway AI simulator
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Hub AI
Waikato Expressway AI simulator
(@Waikato Expressway_simulator)
Waikato Expressway
The Waikato Expressway is a dual carriageway section of State Highway 1 (SH 1) in New Zealand's Waikato region. Constructed in stages, it forms part of the link between Auckland and Hamilton. Currently stretching from Auckland to south of Cambridge, the first section of the highway was built in 1993. Throughout its lifetime, it has undergone many upgrades to optimise traffic flow throughout the Waikato region, including various bypasses of many towns in the region, culminating with Hamilton in 2022.
The final part of the Expressway was completed on 12 July 2022. The expressway forms a 101.4 km (63.0 mi)-long continuous four-lane dual carriageway from the Bombay Hills to beyond the town of Cambridge, 24 km (15 mi) south-east of Hamilton. Hamilton, Huntly, Ngāruawāhia, and Cambridge have all been bypassed by the expressway, allowing through traffic to move much more efficiently.
While not officially designated as the Waikato Expressway until the early 2000s, the upgrading of SH 1 from the Bombay Hills to Mercer in 1992–93 can be considered the first step in construction of the expressway. In this upgrade, SH 1 from the end of the Southern Motorway to just north of Mercer was upgraded from two lanes to four, with grade-separated interchanges constructed at Bombay and the junction with SH 2 just north of the township of Pōkeno. A bypass of Pōkeno was also constructed at this time, as well as several partially separated interchanges to allow access for local property owners along the route.
The Rangiriri to Ohinewai section was completed 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 from the Bombay Hills to Mercer was opened in July 2006. The former two-lane section of state highway is now the 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 North Island Main Trunk railway (NIMT) at this point.
As the two dual carriageway sections of the expressway (Bombay Hills to Longswamp and Rangiriri to Ohinewai) were not continuous, the section of highway between Longswamp and Rangiriri was upgraded to a 2+1 road in 2005 with the intention of upgrading it to four lanes later.
In 2009 the Waikato Expressway was announced by the Minister of Transport, Steven Joyce, as being one of seven "roads of national significance".
The $210m Mangaharakeke Drive section, originally known as the Te Rapa Bypass, was opened on 3 December 2012 between Horotiu and Rotokauri. Construction of the section of the expressway and Mangaharakeke Drive between Taupiri and Horotiu, bypassing Ngāruawāhia, began in late 2011 and was officially opened on 14 December 2013. It includes Te Rehu O Waikato Bridge over the Waikato River, and the 142 m (466 ft), 4-span, concrete-steel composite NIMTR Bridge over the NIMT and Onion Road extension, at a skew angle of 61°, which used 800 tonnes of structural steel.
Waikato Expressway
The Waikato Expressway is a dual carriageway section of State Highway 1 (SH 1) in New Zealand's Waikato region. Constructed in stages, it forms part of the link between Auckland and Hamilton. Currently stretching from Auckland to south of Cambridge, the first section of the highway was built in 1993. Throughout its lifetime, it has undergone many upgrades to optimise traffic flow throughout the Waikato region, including various bypasses of many towns in the region, culminating with Hamilton in 2022.
The final part of the Expressway was completed on 12 July 2022. The expressway forms a 101.4 km (63.0 mi)-long continuous four-lane dual carriageway from the Bombay Hills to beyond the town of Cambridge, 24 km (15 mi) south-east of Hamilton. Hamilton, Huntly, Ngāruawāhia, and Cambridge have all been bypassed by the expressway, allowing through traffic to move much more efficiently.
While not officially designated as the Waikato Expressway until the early 2000s, the upgrading of SH 1 from the Bombay Hills to Mercer in 1992–93 can be considered the first step in construction of the expressway. In this upgrade, SH 1 from the end of the Southern Motorway to just north of Mercer was upgraded from two lanes to four, with grade-separated interchanges constructed at Bombay and the junction with SH 2 just north of the township of Pōkeno. A bypass of Pōkeno was also constructed at this time, as well as several partially separated interchanges to allow access for local property owners along the route.
The Rangiriri to Ohinewai section was completed 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 from the Bombay Hills to Mercer was opened in July 2006. The former two-lane section of state highway is now the 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 North Island Main Trunk railway (NIMT) at this point.
As the two dual carriageway sections of the expressway (Bombay Hills to Longswamp and Rangiriri to Ohinewai) were not continuous, the section of highway between Longswamp and Rangiriri was upgraded to a 2+1 road in 2005 with the intention of upgrading it to four lanes later.
In 2009 the Waikato Expressway was announced by the Minister of Transport, Steven Joyce, as being one of seven "roads of national significance".
The $210m Mangaharakeke Drive section, originally known as the Te Rapa Bypass, was opened on 3 December 2012 between Horotiu and Rotokauri. Construction of the section of the expressway and Mangaharakeke Drive between Taupiri and Horotiu, bypassing Ngāruawāhia, began in late 2011 and was officially opened on 14 December 2013. It includes Te Rehu O Waikato Bridge over the Waikato River, and the 142 m (466 ft), 4-span, concrete-steel composite NIMTR Bridge over the NIMT and Onion Road extension, at a skew angle of 61°, which used 800 tonnes of structural steel.