Commuters saving up to 23 minutes a day by using Cambridge section of the Waikato Expressway

People are shaving up to 23 minutes off their daily commute between Cambridge and Hamilton using the new Cambridge Section of the Waikato Expressway, the NZ Transport Agency says.

Approximately 15,000 vehicles per day have been using the new road since it opened onDecember 16 last year.

The Transport Agency’s Hamilton highway manager, Kaye Clark, says monitoring over the last month has shown drivers are saving between 10 and 13 minutes each trip past Cambridge by not having to go through the town and get caught in queues.

“At peak travel times in the morning, north-bound traffic is saving 13 minutes off their journey and in the afternoon people travelling south have taken 10 minutes off their travel time,” Mrs Clark says.

“That’s up to 23 minutes a day on a round trip that people don’t have to spend sitting in their cars.

“Along with time savings this also saves people money on fuel, and shows the real benefits the Cambridge section of the Expressway is delivering for commuters in the Waikato.” Mrs Clark says.

The increase in traffic on the new road has meant the number of vehicles using the old road has also reduced considerably.

About 13,430 less vehicles are travelling on the old state highway north of Cambridge and about 8000 less vehicles are using the old road south of the town.

Along with reducing congestion in Cambridge, the 16km section is also making the trip considerably safer.

There have been two wire rope barrier strikes since the project opened to traffic, one near the Victoria Road interchange and one near the Northern interchange.

Mrs Clark says the strikes show the effectiveness of wire rope barriers in preventing serious crashes and saving lives.

“The cost of repairing a wire rope barrier is not insignificant – but it pales in comparison to the human and social costs that could have resulted from these crashes had the barrier not been in place,” she says.

A post-construction review of the Cambridge section will take place this year. The review will include noise monitoring, which will get under way in March.

“People living alongside the Expressway are telling us they can hear the traffic,” Mrs Clark says.

“With that in mind we have worked with the contractor, HEB Construction, to bring forward the date that the final, quieter seal will be put on the road.

“The final seal will significantly reduce traffic noise but can only be laid in warm weather and after the existing road surface has had time to bed in. This work will get under way in October, three months earlier than planned.”

ENDS

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