Component
highways: SH 2B
SH 50
SH 50A Major cities Napier, Hastings | Length 24 km | |
North end: SH 2 near Napier Airport South end: SH 2 at Pakipaki, south of Hastings | ||
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 - replaced with a grade separated interchange in 2007) - more traffic lights at Pakowhai Road (southbound and turning traffic only); and roundabouts at Evenden Road, Omahu Road, Flaxmere Avenue/York Road, and finishes at a 5-way roundabout with 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.