| Hawkes Bay Expressway | |
|---|---|
| State Highway 2B State Highway 50 State Highway 50A |
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| Route information | |
| Maintained by New Zealand Transport Agency | |
| Length: | 22 km (14 mi) |
| Major junctions | |
| North end: | SH 2 near Napier Airport |
| SH 50 at Pirimai SH 50 near Pakowhai |
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| South end: | SH 50A near Flaxmere |
| Location | |
| Major cities: | Taradale, Napier, Hastings |
| Highway system | |
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New Zealand State Highways |
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The Hawkes Bay Expressway runs from Flaxmere, west of Hastings, through Taradale and ends at Napier Airport. Transit is planning an extension to the south to rejoin SH 2. The Expressway is one lane in each direction, with, heading south, roundabouts at Prebensen Drive and Taradale Road and interchanges at Kennedy Road (north off, south on) and Meeanee Road (traffic lights for many years and a notorious black spot - now replaced with a grade separated interchange) - more traffic lights at Pakowhai Road (southbound and turning traffic only); and roundabouts at Evenden Road, Omahu Road, and Flaxmere Avenue/York Road. The first section (Kennedy Road - Pakowhai Road) opened in the late 1960s, and construction did not recommence until the late 1990s (south of Pakowhai Road). For 30 years the partially formed approaches for the Kennedy Road overbridge stood each side of the dual carriageway from Napier to Taradale. In 2002, work began to strengthen the approaches and build the bridge: the new expressway opened through to Hawkes Bay Airport late in 2003. The expressway is entirely zoned at a 100 km/h limit. Further projects are planned to extend the expressway at its current southern terminus.
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