Waka Kotahi has unveiled the next phase of its Cambridge to Piarere Safety Improvements programme starting this month.
A turnaround bay at the intersection of State Highway One/Hydro Road, east of Cambridge, is the first of five to be built over the coming year.
Once completed, more than three kilometres of median barriers will be installed extending from the end of the Waikato Expressway to Hydro Road.
Waka Kotahi Infrastructure Delivery manager Jo Wilton said the transport agency would do everything it could to minimise the disruption for locals and visitors.
“This work has been timed to coincide with Ariki Street over the Karāpiro Dam being open until the end of July, offering Karāpiro Village residents and visitors an alternative route.”
Wilton acknowledged though that village residents would find it disruptive as while they can still turn left in and out of Hydro Road, they won’t be able to turn right.
Alternative routes from Cambridge will be sign-posted.
Work should take six to eight weeks depending on the weather.
The next turnaround will be built north of Hickey Road, later in the year.
Turnarounds are a key feature of the safety improvements underway on this stretch of highway.
“While you may need to drive a bit further to get to a turnaround, they offer a much safer right turning option for getting off and onto the highway and will provide better safety for people living and using the route,” said Wilton.
