Hawkes Bay Expressway

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 being replaced with an 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. Except for the Tamatea Drive/Taradale Road section (70 km/h) the expressway is standard 100 km/h limit.

ee also

*List of motorways and expressways in New Zealand