Piarere’ s new 60 metre roundabout is complete.
Piarere Roundabout December 2024
Transport Agency Waka Kotahi began work on what was a state highway 1 and 29 T-intersection in January last year.
Vehicles heading from Tauranga frequently backed up hundreds of metres during peak hour traffic and there were calls for change.
The transport agency opted for a roundabout and was given the go ahead by the Environment Court which rejected suggestions a flyover similar to one on the expressway south of Auckland was a superior long term solution. The court said it did not have enough evidence to support the roundabout, but opponents criticised the fact that it accepted dated data from Waka Kotahi.
Regardless, the new roundabout layout is a significant improvement.
Piarere Roundabout May 2025
“We set out to improve safety, connectivity and reliability for the people who travel on this high volume-route, which sees more than 20,000 vehicles daily,” NZTA Acting Regional Manager Infrastructure Delivery Darryl Coalter said.
“A roundabout was chosen for its proven safety benefits and network resilience.”
It comes with a fourth ‘stub’ which will eventually link to the planned Cambridge to Piarere expressway.
The finished result is a double-lane roundabout featuring two pedestrian/cyclist underpasses, an improved stormwater system and upgraded street lighting and landscaping.
Te Manu Rangimaarie is put in place at the Piarere Roundabout in March. Photo: Supplied
Te Manu Rangimaarie (bird of peace), is a 12-metre-high sculpture in the centre of the roundabout, which celebrates the connection between hapū and iwi to the land and river.
The work was designed by Waikato artist, the late Fred Graham and built in the Hamilton yard of Longveld, who have fabricated many of the large sculptures on the Waikato Expressway.
Some minor finishing touches including surfacing and line marking will continue through the summer sealing season.
Piarere Roundabout September 2025
