Nineteen Waikato projects – including Southern Links and Cambridge to Piarere roads – were among the 149 projects released for inclusion in the Government’s one-stop-shop Fast Track Approvals Bill.
Southern Links
“It’s a priority for us. It’s one of the projects of national significance that we want to see delivered,” Willis told The News.
The projects will help rebuild the economy and fix New Zealand’s housing crisis, improve energy security, and address the country’s infrastructure deficit, Minister for Infrastructure Chris Bishop said on Sunday.
New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi will deliver Southern Links, an effective network of state highway and urban arterial routes to support Hamilton’s planned southern growth into Waipa.
It will link SH1 from Kahikatea Drive to the Waikato Expressway at Tamahere, and SH3 from Hamilton Airport to central and east Hamilton.
There are 11km of local arterials and 21kms of state highway along with associated infrastructure, activities and works.
NZTA will also develop a 16km long four-lane expressway from Cambridge to the intersection with SH29 at Piarere.
Traffic counts at The Narrows Bridge over the Waikato River on SH21 Airport Road are increasing. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
The Piarere Roundabout project – pictured here in June – is expected to be completed in early 2026.
