Another key part of the project, the four-laning of Wairere Dr from River Rd to Resolution Dr, is expected to get under way early this summer in drier weather when working through this gully section.
City council acting city developments manager Martin Mould says the project is having a positive impact on traffic flows around the city.
"When the section to Cobham Dr is complete we will have a major arterial road of 12.4km, with shared walkways and cycleways, taking traffic out of residential areas and creating opportunities for walking, cycling and public transport."
The Wairere Dr extension, south of Ruakura Rd to Cobham Dr, will be staged, starting with Ruakura Rd to Clyde St, then moving to the Clyde St to Cambridge Rd section, and finally the Cambridge Rd to Cobham Dr section.
The job is expected to be finished in mid-2015.
Features include Dey St becoming a separate service lane alongside the new road, extension of the off-road walking and cycling facilities, and crossings being provided for cyclists and pedestrians heading east or west.
In the early stages of works nearby residents can expect to see the site being set up and some service relocations being undertaken, and from early August construction activity will get under way. Initial work in August will include installing new kerbs along Dey St on the eastern side to reduce the existing road width to 6m, and also closing access to Dey St at Clyde St intersection in order to start site works on the new Clyde St traffic signals. Access to all properties will be retained throughout the project.
The Ring Road project is a joint venture, with New Zealand Transport Agency paying $46 million and Hamilton City $38 million.
For more information check the project website www.hamilton.co.nz/AccessHamilton or sign up for weekly email updates ring.road@downer.co.nz.
Hamilton's Ring Road is channelling vehicles off neighbourhood roads and on to the new arterial route.
About 36,000 vehicles per day are using parts of the new link, says city council project engineer Chris Barton.
As of March/April, Wairere Dr (Crosby Rd to Fifth Ave) carried about 14,000 vehicles per day and Wairere Dr (Fifth Ave to Ruakura Rd) about 2000 fewer vehicles per day.
Vehicle counts reduced on Tramway Rd (80 per cent) and on Peachgrove Rd, north of Five Cross Rds (16 per cent).
