Cambridge Chamber of Commerce has intensified its support for on-off ramps at Tīrau Road, south of the town, and is urging Taupō MP Louise Upston to join the campaign.
Taupō MP Louise Upston, right, with NZTA’s Jo Wilton at the turning of the sod ceremony for the Piarere roundabout last year. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Chamber chief executive Kelly Bouzaid sent letters of support to Upston on Monday, telling The News that the landscape had changed dramatically since the chamber first advocated for the ramps.
Newcombe Road on off ramp
“Growth across multiple sectors – industrial, residential, infrastructure, and events – is converging to put unprecedented pressure on local transport networks,” she said.
Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan, Cambridge Community Board chair Jo Davies-Colley, developer 3Ms, Profile Group, Shaws Quarries Ltd and Stevenson Aggregates have all written to Upston asking her to support the chamber’s call to have the ramps included in the Waikato Expressway’s four laning of Cambridge to Piarere.
“Without this infrastructure in place, Cambridge’s town centre is forced to bear the brunt of growing transport demands. In particular, the Victoria Street/Hamilton Road and Victoria Street/Queen Street roundabouts are now primary choke points for traffic movements,” Bouzaid told Upston.
The already formed entrance from Newcombe Rd, less than 200m from the intersection with Tīrau Rd, could become an on ramp for quarry trucks. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
She argued Cambridge’s compact central business district layout is ill-suited to safely accommodate the high volumes of freight traffic expected with new quarries, an expansion of the Hautapu Industrial Precinct and accelerated commercial and residential growth.
Kelly Bouzaid
The News kick started discussion over the on/off ramps solution as a short term fix more than four years ago and it was quickly picked up by the chamber and other business leaders.
Upston ruled out her support last year after New Zealand Transport Agency told her the expressway was not intended for local traffic but said she was “happy to advocate” if there was further traffic data made available.
NZTA has consistently rejected the need for on and off ramps to Waikato Expressway at the southern end of Cambridge near Cambridge Golf Club saying the Expressway’s Victoria Rd interchange provided both northbound and southbound connections to Cambridge.
“Cambridge is known for its charm and liveability. The presence of frequent heavy trucks undermines this, affecting retail vibrancy, tourism, and the overall visitor and resident experience,” said Bouzaid.
The ramps would reduce the burden on the town centre, support the safe and efficient movement of goods and enable the district to play its part in the region’s growth story, she said.
Taupō MP Louise Upson, left, with then Transport Minister Simeon Brown at the turning of the sod ceremony for the Piarere roundabout last year is being asked to reconsider calls for on off ramps south of Cambridge. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
