Construction of a new peanut shaped roundabout at the Morrinsville Road, Silverdale Road and Matangi Road intersection will start on Monday 16 February 2026. This marks a major milestone in the Morrinsville Road Fit for Purpose Upgrades.

Hamilton City Council Operate and Maintain Unit Director, Tania Hermann, says the upgrades will make the area safer for everyone.

“This project is designed to improve safety and ensure Morrinsville Road has the features it needs to function as a local road once the state highway status is revoked,” says Hermann. “We know construction can be disruptive, and we’re grateful to the community for their patience while we get this work done.”

What’s being built

• a peanut-shaped roundabout at the Morrinsville Road, Matangi Road and Silverdale Road intersection
• a new signalised pedestrian crossing on Morrinsville Road, near Matangi Road
• a separated cycle lane from Jansen Park to the new crossing
• a shared walking and cycling path between the new crossing and East Ridge Grove
• widening of the existing footpath connecting Matangi Road to Morrinsville Road.

Construction will run from 16 February to May/June 2026, weather dependent. Work hours are 7am – 7pm, Monday to Friday, with some Saturday work possible.

Road closures and detours

To build the roundabout as quickly and safely as possible, the Morrinsville Road, Matangi Road, and Silverdale Road intersection will be closed to vehicles, but remain open for people walking and cycling.

Hamilton City Council is working closely with nearby schools to help parents and children use designated dropoff and pickup areas safely.

Detour routes suitable for heavy vehicles are in place, but drivers are welcome to plan their own journeys.

Maps showing the closures, pedestrian drop-off points, and detour routes are available at hamilton.govt.nz/morrinsvilleroad.

Hermann says Council looked at options to keep traffic moving through the construction site, but these would have created major issues.

“Allowing traffic through would have required stop/go restrictions causing significant traffic delays, increased costs by about $1 million and construction times by 5-6 months, lowered the road surface quality due to multiple joins, and increased public and worker safety risks,” she says.

“Closing these roads means we can deliver a better result, faster, and at a lower cost. The savings are being reinvested into the project so we can deliver wide shared paths further along Morrinsville Road on the most popular school routes, reflecting community preferences.”

Keeping the community informed

Council has been working with emergency services, Waikato Regional Council, Waikato District Council, the Ministry of Education, local schools, residents, and nearby businesses to help them plan for the temporary road closures. Advertising, roadside signs, letter drops, and digital updates have also been used to raise awareness.

What’s next

The wider Morrinsville Road Fit for Purpose Upgrades continue through 2026, with:

• further walking and cycling upgrades between the new roundabout and Cambridge Road planned for April–May/June.
• a shared path from East Ridge Grove to the Waikato Expressway scheduled for June–August.
• a shared path through to Ruakura Road/Lissette Road (in Waikato District Council’s boundaries) planned for September–November.

All the improvements are fully funded by the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi as part of the State Highway revocation process following construction of the Waikato Expressway.

More information is available at hamilton.govt.nz/morrinsvilleroad.

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