Louise Upston’s influence in the National Party has borne fruit for her electorate with the announcement the 16km Cambridge to Piarere stretch is back on as a national road of significance.
Now business leaders want her to use that clout again by getting on/off ramps at Tirau Road – just past the Cambridge Golf Club – built into the design.
WE SAY ……. Piarere is getting a roundabout
and the expressway is being
extended – now let’s get the on/off
ramps situation sorted.
Transport minister Simeon Brown joined Upston, other National Party MPs and mayors – Matamata-Piako’s Adrienne Wilcock and Susan O’Regan of Waipā – at Piarere to turn the sods for a $43.5 million roundabout at the intersection of SH1 and SH29 last week.
The roundabout was planned under the previous government and approved after an Environment Court decision gave Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency the go-ahead to build a 60-metre diameter roundabout in preference to a flyover.
Less than five minutes into the ceremony last week Waka Kotahi said the roundabout design had been “future proofed” so it would fit long term into anything else planned.
Brown was quick to add that it was back on as a road of national significance and “I can’t wait to come here and open it”.
Spades at the ready for the turning the sod ceremony, guests get a safety briefing in the paddock adjoining SH1 and SH29 where a 60m roundabout will be completed in two years. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
Cambridge Chamber of Commerce chief executive Kelly Bouzaid, who was not invited to the ceremony, has since written to Upston to congratulate her and lobby for the on/off ramps.
Kelly Bouzaid
The News kick started discussion over the on/off ramps solution as a short term fix more than two years ago and it was quickly picked up by the chamber and other business leaders.
We argued the ramps would allow Leamington commuters to join the Expressway from Fergusson (Low Level) Bridge to head north and return the same way, taking thousands of cars out of Cambridge CBD.
Waka Kotahi responded that it would not be cost effective and the Victoria Road interchange provided north and south bound connections.
Wilcock said the roundabout at Piarere would be a life saver and a huge benefit for Matamata-Piako.
Say cheese: Waka Kotahi’s David Speirs was roped in as photographer to take a shot of from left Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan, Transport minister Simeon Brown, Taupō MP Louise Upston and Matamata-Piako mayor Adrienne Wilcock at the Piarere turning the sod ceremony. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
“I know people who will work from home instead of travelling to work to use this T intersection. The queues are just too much.
“It’s all about safety and flow and we look forward to that.”
O’Regan said while the roundabout would be in the Matamata-Piako district, any significant roading infrastructure on the outskirts of Waipā and South Waikato districts was “really heartening”.
She applauded the decision to have the Cambridge to Piarere stretch back on as a nationally significant project.
“That will obviously receive support from this government and that’s something we have been lobbying for.”
Taupō MP Louise Upston cannot hide her delight as she puts safety gear on for the turning the sod ceremony at Piarere. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
Waka Kotahi Regional Relationships director David Speirs told The News it was not “just another roundabout.”
It was the least safe part of SH1 in the country and was “absolutely critical” given the huge demand from the Ruakura inland and Tauranga ports.
There will be no visible change for six months while Downer Construction builds the roundabout away from the current traffic flow – about 30,000 vehicles a day, 16 per cent of it freight – in a paddock next to SH1 and SH29.
Workers will build the approaches first and construct a cycleway under the roundabout before completing the road in two years. It will deliberately be large to support traffic flow allowing cars to enter at 90kms an hour, said Speirs.
See: Upston laments Piarere delays
See: Looking at Cambridge transport
See: MP wants express issues ironed out
Peak time just after 5pm at the southern end of the Waikato Expressway – on Tirau Road, just past the Cambridge Golf Course – while Cambridge is congested.
Turning the sod: from left Waka Kotahi’s Jo Wilton and David Speirs wait as Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan chats with Transport and Local Government minister Simeon Brown while behind her MPs Ryan Hamilton (Hamilton East), Tom Rutherford (Bay of Plenty), Sam Uffindell (Tauranga) and Matamata-Piako mayor Adrienne Wilcock. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
