Work on an expressway bridge in Tamahere is due to finish any day now.
A disruptive section of Waikato Expressway work in Tamahere is almost complete.
Motorists from Cambridge and Tamahere heading to and from Hamilton have encountered delays through a 50km/h zone since a detour at the Tamahere interchange closed part of State Highway 1.
This is the southern point of the Hamilton section of the Waikato Expressway and, while most of the 22km four-lane highway works takes place away from public view, its connection with SH1 at Tamahere provides major challenges for the construction team and the 30,000-plus vehicles a day passing through the site.
“This is a very busy site with lots going on, but our project neighbours and road users have been very patient while we get this important work done,” says Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Waikato portfolio manager Darryl Coalter.
“The good news for road users is the short but difficult detour at the Tamahere Interchange will finish shortly (due early this week) and that’s the last of the more disruptive works at Tamahere.
“There will be four more traffic switches on the Southern Interchange as tie-ins continue but these will involve moving lanes around rather than detours.”
The enormity of the Waikato Expressway project is best viewed from above, this shot from atop one of the giant cranes used on the project as it was lifting the final set of beams into place on the Cambridge Road Bridge.
Since July, all traffic has been running on what will be the Hamilton off-ramp, which passes under the East West Link Bridge.
The Cambridge Road Bridge is taking shape nearby and will be the south-bound on-ramp. It will also provide access to roads in Tamahere.
“This is our final bridge to be spanned and is also the most challenging,” said Coalter.
The final beams were placed on the bridge last week. The bridge will take traffic over the expressway and under the East West Link Bridge. It is angled across the expressway with the beams joining the bridge abutments at angles of up to 44 degrees.
“The bridge is curved so the beams on each side of the bridge have been made with a curved edge.’’
Construction of the road embankment to bring traffic on to the bridge will begin shortly.
Traffic heading north and south detour through the Tamahere interchange while work is carried out on the expressway.
People will learn more about the Hamilton project at the annual public open day, at the site office on Ryburn Rd, off Ruakura Rd, on November 16.
The main attraction will be bus rides along part of the new route. The visitor centre will be open, and staff will be on-hand to talk about the project.
Find out more at https://www.nzta.govt.nz/media-releases/free-public-bus-tours-through-expressway-project
