All quiet on the southern front: At the southern end of the new expressway traffic flowed in an out of Hamilton smoothly this morning – while, left, this snap also had a view of vehicles on the expressway. A numbers count at 8am survey suggested almost three times as many vehicles were still on the old road. Photo: Roy Pilott
The weather that dumped heavy rain at the official opening of the Waikato Expressway Hamilton section on Tuesday delayed the public from using it until last night (Thursday).
By 9am today (July 15) the numbers on the expressway were increasing. Most notable was that heavy vehicles were using the new route.
Roadworks at Tamahere slows traffic down before entering the new part of the expressway.
Mary Anne Gill
Around 250 hundred guests, including The News’ senior writer Mary Anne Gill, joined Māori King Tūheitia and Transport Minister Michael Wood to cut the ribbon on the biggest roading project in Waikato history on Tuesday.
Running from Ngāruawāhia in the north to the existing Tamahere interchange south of Hamilton, the road connects Auckland to the agriculture and business centres of the Waikato and will improve productivity in the region, says Waka Kotahi.
But clean ups around the region and completion of the Resolution Drive extension prevented the public from using the new 22kms from Tamahere through to north of Hampton Downs.
The new 110km/h speed limit is now in place along much of the expressway but small sections at Tamahere and just south of Hampton Downs are being upgraded to 110 standard and they will remain under traffic management until spring, while the Ngāruawāhia section will not be 110km/h until remedial and safety improvements are done.
See: Cambridge bridge, what bridge?
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- The raising of the King’s standard flag at Tamahere in appalling weather conditions.
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- Kiingi Tuuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII and Transport Minister Michael Wood cut the ribbon on the biggest roading project in Waikato history.
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- Māori King Tūheitia Potatau Te Wherowhero VII, left, with Transport Minister Michael Wood, right, prepares to cut the ribbon to open the Waikato Expressway Hamilton section with a pair of sharp scissors used at every other opening.
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- King Tūheitia Potatau and his wife Makau Ariki Atawhai tuck into a hot breakfast after the watery expressway opening.
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- Ngāti Hauā and Ngāti Mahuta attended the opening and dried off at Claudelands Events Centre. Pictured from left were Ruth Pene, Te Ao Marama Maaka, Raiha Grey, Kahurere Tuhakaraina, Elizabeth Thompson, Pare Holder, Awhi Tuhakaraina and Ngāti Hauā Iwi Trust general manager Lisa Gardiner.
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- Jim Mylchreest
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- Tainui gifted Waka Kotahi with a ceremonial hoe passed along each section over the years. L to r: Tainui’s Rahui Papa, project managers Bruce Waugh and Jo Wilton, and Ngati Wairere kaumatua Tumuaki Hone Tamihana.
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- Guests pictured after the opening – Back row, from left, mayors Jim Mylchreest, Allan Sanson and Paula Southgate, NZTA board member Victoria Carter, Waka Kotahi project managers Bruce Waugh and Jo Wilton, NZTA chief executive Nicole Rosie, MP Jamie Strange, NZTA board deputy chair Cassandra Crowley, MP David Bennett. From row l-r: Transport minister Michael Wood, Maori King Tūheitia Potatau Te Wherowhero VII, his wife Makau Ariki Atawhai and Tainui tumuaki Hone Tamihana Thompson.
