Te Rapa Bypass, New Zealand

Country: New Zealand
Key Area: Other Infrastructure
Services: Landscape Architecture

The design vision for the Bypass is to achieve a linear green entrance to Hamilton City, creating a new approach from the north, which will supercede the current State Highway. Its purpose is to facilitate north/ south through traffic, while providing for growth and local connectivity within the area. Although its primary function is as a bypass to Te Rapa, it provides the opportunity to make a significant contribution to the future growth and urbanisation of Hamilton City. The vision reflects the changing land use and surroundings for the northern part of Hamilton City and encapsulates the local Waikato River character, while providing a framework which will respond to the urbanization of the area over time as the city’s boundary changes. Development of this vision has been a product of the whole team, both design and contracting disciplines. Design skills have been drawn from landscape architecture, urban design, architects, ecology, civil and bridge engineering, planning and acoustics, heritage and cultural experts. The landscape and urban design master plan encompasses the vision with the aim to create a highway system which is integrated with its surroundings, reflecting the past and present, and allows for changing land uses over time. The design elements add yet another layer to the landscape, reflecting the underlying landform, natural elements, patterns and processes. In the long term the design will develop and mature to provide a highway landscape framework appropriate for the change and development of the adjacent land. The design has taken account of the key objectives and outcomes required by the New Zealand Transport Association (NZTA). These requirements include integrating environmental, landscape and urban design elements into the overall design and construction process. To achieve this, the following landscape and urban design goals have been set:

Landscape and Urban Design Goals
To demonstrate the connection and character, the landscape and urban design goals set for the Te Rapa Bypass are to:

create a linear green entrance parkway to the north of Hamilton
be an integral part of the surrounding area
provide structure and opportunities for future land use change
provide a core green space which can spread out/within the wider community
improve connectivity and create an identity and ownership for the future direction of the city complement the Waikato River landscape and local culture and enhance local biodiversity.

The Te Rapa section of the Waikato Expressway is currently under construction and due to be opened to the public in summer 2013. The landscape design incorporates planting approximately 300,000 plants into the construction programme.