Hawke's Bay Expressway

Hawke's Bay Expressway
Route information
Maintained by New Zealand Transport Agency
Length: 24 km (15 mi)
Component
highways:
Major junctions
North end: SH 2 near Napier Airport
  SH 50 at Pirimai
SH 50 near Pakowhai
South end: SH 50A south of Flaxmere
Location
Major cities: Napier, Hastings
Highway system

The Hawke's Bay Expressway, known also as the Napier-Hastings Expressway, runs from south of Flaxmere, passing west of Hastings, through Taradale and Napier, and ends at Hawke's Bay Airport, a total length of 24km. Transit is planning an extension further 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, Flaxmere Avenue/York Road, and Maraekakaho Road/Longlands Road/Pakipaki 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. A new extension south of Flaxmere opened in 2011. The expressway is entirely zoned at a 100 km/h limit. Further projects are planned to extend the expressway at its current southern terminus.

See also