Morrinsville Road fit for purpose upgrades

Project Summary

What we're doing

We’re planning improvements to Morrinsville Road for all road users. The scope of the project includes:

Streetlight upgrades.
Shared path on the northern side of Morrinsville Road between Silverdale Road and the Waikato Expressway overbridge.
Roundabout at the intersection of Morrinsville Road, Silverdale Road and Matangi Road.
Speed limit changes between Cambridge Road and the Waikato Expressway overbridge. These are being progressed by NZ Transport Agency | Waka Kotahi who will seek public feedback on the changes in late 2025. Note: NZTA is currently seeking feedback on a speed review for the 0.65km section of State Highway 26 from the State Highway 1C/26 roundabout to northeast of Berkley Avenue near Te Ara Hou Village (where the current speed signs are), you can find out more here.
Safer crossings at selected locations along Morrinsville Road.
Separated bike lanes between Cambridge Road and the new roundabout at the intersection of Silverdale Road/Matangi Road.

Concept design – roundabout

Morrinsville Road upgrades are significant and will happen over the coming years. To start with, we’re focusing on the design and construction of the roundabout, then we’ll move on to the other project elements.

Why we're doing it

Following the opening of the Hamilton section of the Waikato Expressway, NZTA identified that the section of State Highway 26 (SH26), between Cambridge Road and the Waikato Expressway, no longer needs to be a state highway. They are now undertaking a revocation process to transfer this road to a local road that is controlled and managed by Hamilton City Council.

Before this happens, road improvements to make it feel and look more like a local road are needed. These changes will make the road safer, easier to maintain and will provide better travel options.

Of note is that over the last 10 years, 70 crashes have been recorded between Cambridge Road the Waikato Expressway. 23 of these crashes were at the Silverdale/Matangi intersection.

The budget for the project is $11 million which is 100% funded by the NZ Transport Agency | Waka Kotahi (NZTA).

This project will

Make it safer for all road users
Provide more travel options
Make the road easier to maintain

Project timeline | Where we are at

Stage 1 - Planning

2024-25
Public engagement on roundabout and shared path design.
Planning and design.
Stage 2 - Planning

2025-26
NZTA engage with the public on speed limit changes.
Hamilton City Council engage with the public on safer crossings and bike path.
Roundabout construction.
Stage 3 - Underway

2026-27
Safer crossings and separated bike path construction.

Latest updates

March 2025 Public drop-in session

In March 2025 we held two public drop-in sessions to talk to the community about our plans to install the peanut shaped roundabout and the shared path.

The sessions were well attended by around 100-150 people. Both sessions were busy, with Tuesday’s session being the most popular. A report on what we heard is available here.

We are considering this feedback and will provide another update to the community in the next month or two. The update will include responses to the feedback received and a final design for the roundabout and shared path.

28 November 2024 Infrastructure and Transport Committee

Agenda and minutes are here

The Committee chose to follow the staff recommendation, which was Option 2: Separated cycles ways with raised safety platforms on side streets as per option 1, signalised crossing near Cambridge Road, kerb build outs (these create safer and shorter crossings for pedestrians) to the existing signalised crossing near Mullane Street.  Staff will now start to layout a draft design concept – with an early emphasis on completing the roundabout design at Morrinsville/Matangi/Silverdale intersections.

26 September 2024 – Infrastructure and Transport Committee

Agenda and minutes are here

The Committee were presented options for pedestrian and cycle facilities form and location at the Morrinsville Road/Silverdale Road intersection. They chose was Option 2 that included uncontrolled crossings on Silverdale Road with raised safety platforms, kerb buildouts (these create safer and shorter crossings for pedestrians) and median refuges. A dual signalised crossing with no raised safety platform but kerb buildouts and median refuges on Morrinsville Road (SH26) west of the roundabout.

8 August 2024 – Infrastructure and Transport Committee

Agenda and minutes are here

Design and construction were approved for:

Streetlight upgrades and the shared path on the northside of Morrinsville Road between Silverdale Road and the Waikato Expressway overbridge.
Design and construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Morrinsville Road, Silverdale Road and Matangi Road
An assessment of crossing options at the roundabout for people who are walking and biking to be completed ahead of Infrastructure and Transport Committee on 26 September 2024.
Safer crossings and a separated bike path along the rest of Morrinsville Road are to be investigated at a later date.

News: Community support for safety improvements on Hamilton's roads

For more info:

Contact Matt Leach – Customer Experience Lead

Email: info@hcc.govt.nz using the subject line: Morrinsville Road TP5333.

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Frequently asked questions

During public engagement, what did the roundabout and shared path designs look like?

The roundabout design we engaged with the public on is here and the shared path design is here.

What’s the problem this project’s addressing?

The original form of this road was designed to cater for vehicle traffic and inter-region movement. However, with parks, schools, and many homes and businesses in the area, we need to consider a wider range of needs and options for people to access these locations.

There are limited facilities for active modes to safely move along the road. The Silverdale/Matangi intersection is identified as a high-crash intersection and has no pedestrian facilities.

In 2022, a business case was prepared by NZTA in consultation with key stakeholders that determined improvements needed to ensure the roads are:

Safer for all road users. 
Provides travel choice. 
Whole of life costs appropriate to the road function (the road assets are upgraded to a standard typical of similar roads in the city, including stormwater needs, to ensure feasible maintenance costs for Council).

How busy is Morrinsville Road?

Morrinsville Road has average daily traffic of 13,300 vehicles per day.

What is the safety record of Morrinsville Road?

Over the last 10 years, 70 crashes have been recorded along the Hamilton section between Cambridge Road the Waikato Expressway.

Twenty-three of these crashes occurred at the Silverdale/Matangi intersection:

One fatal crash involving a cyclist turning right into Matangi Road.
Ten minor injury crashes.
Ten non-injury crashes.

Across the Mullane, Morris and Berkley intersections, 16 crashes were recorded in the last ten years. There were nine injuries – seven minor and two serious. Two involved pedestrians, both school age, and two involved cyclists.

Since 2014, there have been 41 crashes recorded on Morrinsville Road between the Cambridge Road roundabout and Matangi Road. These crashes include:

4 serious crashes

14 minor injury crashes

23 non-injury crashes.

Out of the 41 recorded crashes:

4 involved cyclists (all non-injury)

3 involved pedestrians (1 serious, 2 minor injuries).

What’s the difference between a state highway and a local road?

State highways are those roads in New Zealand that form a nationally strategic purpose in moving people and goods nationwide. For example, State Highway 1 runs the entire length of New Zealand. State highways are a Crown asset managed by NZTA on behalf of central Government.

Local roads provide access to homes, business, and community facilities and serve a local strategic purpose in moving goods and people around neighbourhoods, districts, and regions. Local roads are an asset managed by Council.

What will be the speed limit changes for Morrinsville Road?

The proposed speed limit changes will see the existing 50km/h speed limit extended to the eastern side of the new roundabout. There is a proposal to change the speed limit around the entrances to Berkely School from 40km/h variable speed limit to 30km/h. Find out more about the safer school speed limits here.

East of the new roundabout the proposed speed change is 60km/h out past Council’s HCC boundary to the Ruakura Listette Morrinsville roundabout. East of this roundabout, the existing 80km/h will remain.