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|---|---|
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| Route information | |
| Maintained by NZ Transport Agency | |
| Length | 101.4 km (63.0 mi) |
| Existed | 8 May 1993–present |
| Component highways | State Highway 1 |
| Tourist routes | Thermal Explorer Highway |
| Major junctions | |
| North end | Bombay Hills Auckland Southern Motorway |
| South end | Just south of Cambridge |
| Location | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Primary destinations | Pōkeno, Mercer, Meremere, Te Kauwhata, Rangiriri |
| Highway system | |
The Waikato Expressway is a dual carriageway section of State Highway 1 (SH 1) in New Zealand's Waikato region. Constructed in stages, it forms part of the link between Auckland and Hamilton. Currently stretching from Auckland to south of Cambridge,[1] the first section of the highway was built in 1993.[2] Throughout its lifetime, it has undergone many upgrades to optimise traffic flow throughout the Waikato region,[1] including various bypasses of many towns in the region, culminating with Hamilton in 2022.[3]
The final part of the Expressway was completed on 12 July 2022. The expressway forms a 101.4 km (63.0 mi)-long continuous four-lane dual carriageway from the Bombay Hills to beyond the town of Cambridge, 24 km (15 mi) south-east of Hamilton. Hamilton, as well as several other towns along the former route of SH 1 (such as Huntly, Ngāruawāhia, and Cambridge), have been completely bypassed by the expressway, allowing through traffic to move much more efficiently.[4]
- ^ a b "Final section of the Waikato Expressway complete". The Beehive.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Auckland Motorways 2008was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Lines-MacKenzie, Jo (27 June 2022). "Bye, bye Hamilton - State Highway 1 says haere rā, Kirikiriroa". Stuff.
- ^ "Waikato Expressway". NZ Transport Agency. 2009. Archived from the original on 8 October 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2010.