Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
People travelling between the Bay of Plenty and the Waikato will be able to get where they’re going sooner, with the speed limit lifting this morning at the new roundabout at the intersection of State Highways 1 and 29.
After 17 months of construction, the bulk of the work on the SH1/29 roundabout and approach roads in Piarere is complete, meaning it’s now safe for NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) to lift the speed limit to 100km/h.
“Lifting the temporary speed limit is a major milestone. We’ve come over the hill and the finish line for this project is now in sight,” says Acting Regional Manager Infrastructure Delivery Waikato/Bay of Plenty, Darryl Coalter.
Construction got underway in January 2024, and Mr Coalter says work is on track to be completed in August this year.
“Our project team and contractors understand just how important this new roundabout is for people who use the road on a daily basis and have been dedicated to completing it as efficiently as possible.”
People will continue to see activity over the next few weeks, including landscaping (around 200,000 plants will be in by the end of July) and finishing touches will be applied to the underpasses.
Final road surfacing works are also anticipated in July, likely to be carried out at night, with details to be confirmed closer to the time. These works would require a temporary reduced speed limit, before the limit will be reinstated to 100km/h again.
The 60-metre roundabout is designed to improve efficiency, connectivity, and safety on this very important high-volume route. It has also been constructed to allow connection with the future expressway between Cambridge and Piarere.
