This project will
Complete the major Hamilton Ring Road project
Support people getting around our city now and in the future
Make travel into and out of Hamilton smoother, quicker and safer
Project summary
What we're doing
The final piece of the Hamilton Ring Road – the extension of Wairere Drive between Cambridge Road and Cobham Drive – will connect the future bridge over the Waikato River into Peacocke. To do this, Cobham Drive will be raised to allow the four-laned Wairere Drive to pass underneath it. Work will also include extensions of shared walking and biking paths for people to enjoy.
The total project cost to build the final section of the Ring Road is $45 million, of which 75% is contributed by the government through Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency subsidies. The Ring Road will be fully completed in 2022.
Why we're doing it
The Ring Road is an important piece of the puzzle in creating a transport network that supports the future growth of Hamilton. The final stage of the Ring Road network is significant - it improves transport connections in our city and also future-proofs our transport network for our fast-growing city.
Project features
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A road for the future
The Ring Road will future-proof our transport network for our fast-growing city. -
Improvements for all road users
The Ring Road project includes extensions of shared walking and biking paths for people to enjoy. -
Smoother travel, less congestion
Increased lanes and smart links to key roads will decrease congestion and make travelling into, out of, and through Hamilton Kirikiriroa smoother, quicker and easier.
Programme blueprint
With the Ring Road, Council and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency are creating a main route for traffic as Hamilton Kirikiriroa grows. The road will support people getting around our city now and in the future.
Here’s a 3D visualisation concept video of how the final section of the Hamilton Ring Road will look once completed. Some elements are subject to change and may differ from what you see here.
Frequently asked questions
Why do you need to do this work?
When the whole project is completed, Cobham Drive will be raised to allow the four-laned Wairere Drive to pass underneath it, connecting to the future bridge over the Waikato River to Peacocke.
Why can’t all four lanes be open?
To allow us to do this work safely we require extra space on the road. This means we need to close one lane for the duration of this phase of work. Our extensive traffic modelling, which included vehicle number counting at peak times, identified two lanes north-bound and a single lane southbound as the most efficient given the work site constraints.
It’s also important to note that our preferred direction of two lanes north and one lane south took into account the effect on the wider roading network and what the delays would look like on either side of the work site.
When will the project be finished?
It’s anticipated that the Ring Road will be fully complete and operational by mid-2022.
How long will the delays be?
Our data shows us there will be small delays to people’s journeys.
How many lanes will be open travelling into the city?
Two lanes for Hamilton-bound vehicles.
How many lanes will be open travelling out of the city?
One lane for south-bound.
How is this project funded?
The Hamilton Ring Road is costing $62 million of which 72% is contributed by central government through Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency subsidies.
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Last updated 16 July 2022