Media statement | 11 August 2006

Funding approved for design of Cambridge bypass

The Land Transport NZ Board has approved $4.4 million in design funding for the State Highway 1 Cambridge bypass.

The project involves a new 11km road bypassing the existing section of SH1 which currently passes through Cambridge, bisecting residential and industrial areas.

The bypass will form part of the Waikato expressway from Mercer to Cambridge. The expressway is a high priority for the region in the long term. In recent years Land Transport NZ has funded several projects on the expressway, including:

• Four-laning the highway from Mercer to Longswamp
• Four-laning the highway from Rangiriri to south of Ohinewai
• Installation of a wire rope median barrier on the Longswamp-Rangiriri section.

Land Transport NZ Midlands Partnership Manager Rosalie Orr said the Cambridge bypass aimed to reduce congestion and improve safety on SH1 and in the Cambridge town centre, provide safe pedestrian and cycle facilities in the town, reduce vehicle noise and emissions in the town and protect the long term function of the highway.

For further information:

Rosalie Orr
Midlands Partnerships Manager
Land Transport NZ
07 958 7859  or  0274 523 230