Turnaround on SH1 and Hydro Road complete
The works by Waka Kotahi on a new turnaround at the intersection of SH1 and Hydro Road, as part of the SH1 Cambridge to Piarere Safety Improvements, are running ahead of schedule and are now complete.
Now the first turnaround bay is complete, the intersection returns to its usual operation - with drivers able to turn both left and right, in and out of Hydro Road at SH1. Residents can use Ariki Street over the Karāpiro Dam, open until 31 July.
The right turn out of Hydro Road onto SH1 will remain in place until the next turnaround north of Hickey Road is constructed later in 2023. When that happens, the right turn out of Hydro Road will permanently close (but the right turn in will remain).
Works to complete two more turnarounds north of Hickey Road and Keeley’s Reserve will commence later in the year, and once completed, more flexible median barriers can be installed.
Hydro Road will get the barriers first, followed by the Waikato Expressway. These flexible median barriers help to prevent head-on collisions. They are already on a four km stretch of the road further south near Piarere, which has proven valuable, with many hits which could have otherwise been serious crashes.