Safety upgrades set to begin on section of State Highway 1 between Cambridge and Piarere

Work is set to start on safety upgrades for a section of the Cambridge to Pairere on State Highway 1 as Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency continues with its goal of reducing road crashes across New Zealand.

While it will not be receiving the same treatment as the four laned expressways that the National Part had been campaigning for, the section of road is set to have median barriers installed, it will be the second safety upgrade since the lanes were widened in 2018.

The safety upgrades will complement the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of State Highways 1 and 29. The $58 million project is set to begin in 2022.

SH1 is expected to remain open in both directions while the median barriers are being installed.

There will be temporary traffic management in place to keep workers and motorists safe, including a 30km/h temporary speed limit through the work zone.

Motorists should expect to see heavy trucks, machinery, cones and further lane shifts and closures along this part of the highway.

It may also be necessary to operate Stop/Go traffic management for short periods. These measures will be in place to ensure the safety of both road users and road workers.

There had been a delay in the project while investigations to ensure stability of the road shoulder took place.

The northbound passing lane was closed as a precautionary safety measure while these investigations were completed.

Waka Kotahi has now completed those investigations, the lane has been re-opened, and the installation of the median barrier will start again on Tuesday.