Crank your pedals to Ring Road opening

Hamilton residents will get a chance to cycle or walk a brand new section of the Hamilton Ring Road when it is formally opened later this month.

Also known as the Wairere Drive extension, the new section of the Hamilton Ring Road from Crosby Road to Fifth Avenue will be opened at a public event on 27 October, and the first traffic to use the 2-kilometre stretch will be cyclists and pedestrians.

The public event will also include speeches by Her Worship the Mayor Julie Hardaker, Hamilton East MP David Bennett (on behalf of the Government and Minister of Transport Gerry Brownlee) and a representative of construction firm Downer. Hamilton radio personality Mark Bunting will be MC for the event, which will begin at 10.15am, and also features an exhibition of construction photos on display at New Life Church.

“The completion and opening of this section of road represents another significant milestone for the Hamilton Ring Road,” says Mayor Hardaker.

“Delivery of this crucial piece of city infrastructure will not only keep Hamilton moving, it is a significant contribution to economic growth for Hamilton and the Waikato.  It also shows the benefits of a strong working partnership between central and local government.”

A sausage sizzle and stilt-walkers from Hamilton’s Free Lunch Street Theatre will also be part of the event.

The road is expected to be fully open to traffic by 4pm on the day of the event.