This stage of the asphalting work is focussed on the southbound lanes between the Victoria Road Interchange at Hautapu and the Northern Interchange.

From Sunday May 17 to early July (weather dependent), the southbound on- and off- ramps at Victoria Road Interchange (Hautapu) will be closed. Crews will be working across all southbound lanes in this 5km stretch, day and night, where they can to get the work done as quickly as possible.

Roger Brady, NZTA Regional Manager for Maintenance and Operations in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty, says the renewals are about looking after a critical piece of the region’s transport network.

“This section of the Waikato Expressway carries a lot of people and freight every day. Renewing the asphalt now will help keep the road in good condition, improve ride quality, and support safe and reliable travel for years to come,” he says.

In total the work will upgrade a 16km section of SH1 between Cambridge and Tamahere with new asphalt, equating to 62 lane kilometres of work. The work is being completed in 5km stages and is expected to finish in late-2026.

The rebuilding of the structural layers topped with open grade porous asphalt (OGPA) is designed to keep the expressway safe, resilient and ready for future growth.

Stage 1 and 2 of the work has already been completed on the southbound lanes between the Southern Interchange and the Victoria Road Interchange at Hautapu, and crews are now nearing completion of the northbound lanes in the same area.

To complete Stage 3 safely, the southbound on- and off-ramps at the Victoria Road Interchange will be closed for the duration of this part of the work. A further northbound programme is planned to follow which will require the closure of the northbound on- and off-ramps at the Victoria Road Interchange. Updates will be provided ahead of these closures.

“We recognise these ramp closures will be disruptive for people who regularly use the Victoria Road Interchange to exit the Expressway into Hautapu or Cambridge, or to join the Expressway to travel south on State Highway 1,” says Mr Brady.

“Please plan ahead, consider travelling outside peak times if you can, and follow temporary speed limits and crew directions. This helps keep everyone safe and allows our teams to complete the work as efficiently as possible.”

A signposted detour will be in place for southbound traffic leaving Cambridge from Hautapu. Other southbound traffic can access Cambridge by exiting at the Northern Interchange and using Cambridge Road/Hamilton Road. Drivers travelling into Cambridge are encouraged to consider all available alternative routes during the southbound ramp closures. 

Traffic leaving Cambridge southbound from Hautapu can detour via SH1B / Victoria Street / Queen Street / Albert Street / Achilles Avenue / Tīrau Road / SH1. All southbound traffic entering Cambridge from Hamilton must exit at the Northern Interchange and use Cambridge Road / Hamilton Road.

Congestion is expected during the works, particularly at the Victoria Road/Cambridge Road roundabout beside St Andrews Church, as people adjust to the closures and choose alternative routes into Cambridge. Congestion is also expected at the Albert Street/Achillies Street intersection and the Shakespeare Street/Tīrau Road intersection.

“We will be monitoring traffic conditions and making any adjustments needed. We know this work will be disruptive at times, but it is essential to improving the long-term condition and performance of the state highway,” says Mr Brady.

“Where it’s safe to do so, we’ll work to have the Expressway operating as normally as possible for key holidays and major events. We’ll keep sharing updates as timings are confirmed and as work progresses.”

More information: https://nzta.govt.nz/waikato-works.