Taupiri Bypass - Waikato

Higgins completed the Taupiri Link of the Ngaruawahia Bypass in December 2011.

Project Overview

NZTA reported that there were "good outcomes achieved in difficult circumstances, with a highly cooperative approach adopted by the Contractor to manage significant uncertainty." The 1.5km road is stage 1 of the Ngaruawahia Bypass.  Taupiri Link connects to SH1B (due for completion in 2014) back onto SH1 at Taupiri.  The Huntly bypass will connect the Ngaruawahia Bypass to the existing four lane section at Ohinewai which is programmed for completion in 2019.  Once this is complete the Taupiri Link road will revert to a local collector road. The Tangata Whenua had extensive involvement in the Taupiri Link project as it is an area of high cultural significance.

Higgins Role

Senior Project Manager Stephen Hough says "Higgins role was to manage and construct this challenging project involving significant alignment changes and pavement upgrades to both State Highway 1 and 1B.  Traffic queues and wait times have been almost eliminated and safety greatly improved at these very busy intersections.  Using resource from our Hamilton branch and company specialists from Auckland and Tauranga we have been able to complete the project safely and ahead of time for NZTA and the local community." Higgins constructed a two lane roundabout at the intersection of SH1 and SH1B; a new single lane roundabout at Orini Road and SH1B; a new pedestrian/cycle bridge over the North Island main trunk railway; redirecting existing side roads to the roundabouts; shared walk/cycle ways and extensive landscaping works.