Tamahere Drive Upgrade Moves Through Final Safety Checks

Waikato District Council says the proposed Tamahere Drive upgrade is continuing through detailed design, with several issues raised by residents now addressed and independent safety reviews underway. The project was first presented to residents earlier this year and includes renewal of the existing road pavement alongside improvements to parking, pedestrian access and road safety. Council's June information identified around 40 new diagonal parking spaces and a designated pedestrian crossing point among the proposed works.

The Tamahere Community Committee was advised at its August meeting that the upgrade had been approved, with construction expected in early 2027. WDC Transport Manager Aram Goes has now confirmed Council has responded to all queries raised by residents concerning vehicle entranceways, while a minor boundary adjustment process is underway with one affected landowner.

Importantly, Council has commissioned both an independent peer review and a Safe Systems Audit (SSA) of the design, with those reviews due by 30 August. The latest August design drawings show the proposed works extending along Tamahere Drive and incorporating upgraded and reinstated vehicle entrances, shared-path and footpath improvements, angled parking and a proposed courtesy pedestrian crossing, which could become a future zebra crossing.

Streetlighting will also form part of the safety response. Aram Goes says upgrades will initially prioritise lighting the proposed pedestrian crossing location, while additional streetlighting already included in the design will depend on final pricing and available funding. Construction was originally identified by Council for the January–March 2027 period, with the TCC subsequently advised that work is expected to get underway in February. The outcome of the independent design and safety reviews should provide the next significant checkpoint before the project moves towards construction.

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