The emotional rollercoaster that is the Waikato Expressway has been parked up from today, in line with the Government lockdown and State of Emergency surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Hamilton section works – the last piece of the massive Waikato Expressway project – has now shut down for four weeks.
This follows the long-awaited opening of the Huntly bypass this month and the restoration of the 100km/h speed limit on the newly surfaced Longswamp section in the past week.
The NZ Transport Agency says extra site security will be in place during the shutdown and project staff will continue to monitor environmental controls and areas under traffic management.
Key staff will also continue to work from home on administrative duties, including preparation for the “rapid recommencement” of work once the all-clear is given.
Whether this means a delay to the overall project timeframe is yet to be confirmed and will of course depend on whether the Covid-19 lockdown continues past its initial four weeks.
The Hamilton section is not due for completion until late-2021.
When complete, the Expressway – running the 102km from the Bombay Hills to south of Cambridge - is expected to reduce travel time between Auckland and Tirau by 35 minutes, reduce congestion and fuel use, and have a significant impact on road safety.
