Project Description
The Wairere Drive extension from Hukanui Road to Tramway Road is one of Access Hamilton's major projects. The new road was constructed by Fulton Hogan and at the time, the $20m contract was the highest value contract Council has ever awarded.
Through Access Hamilton, Council is delivering a better transport environment for the City, helping it to be more attractive and vibrant and improving the quality of life in Hamilton. This new road extension will become part of the Access Hamilton ring road infrastructure, providing an efficient and effective means for people to move around the whole city. This section of the ring road network will form part of the greater Wairere Drive corridor, which will eventually stretch from Te Rapa Road (SH1) in the west to Cobham Drive (SH1) in the south.
The section of Wairere Drive between Hukanui Road and Tramway Road was designated for a city arterial road in the 1990's. During the project planning phase there was extensive public consultation, public open days and detailed planning. Construction began in September 2007 and works were completed in December 2010, with final asphalt surfacing completed in June 2011.
Council worked with contractors during construction to promote innovation to achieve cost savings and minimise public disruption through the construction period. This has been a successful process which significantly reduced the impact on residents in the area during construction. Despite this though, construction activities inevitably cause disruption to residents and neighbours of the site, and we sincerely thank all residents and neighbours of the site, and we sincerely thank all residents in the area for their patience and understanding during the construction phase.
The extension project includes the same high quality features already established along the western end of Wairere Drive, including noise mitigation, landscaping, and a shared off-road pedestrian/cycle path. In addition to the transport elements of the project, Council has invested in significant wastewater, stormwater and clean water infrastructure through this corridor.
This project was very successful for Council, which delivered significant benefits to Hamilton City in both providing essential services as well as effective transport outcomes. | 
