State Highway 23 (New Zealand)

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State Highway 23 shield}}
State Highway 23
Map
Route information
Maintained by NZ Transport Agency
Length42.7 km (26.5 mi)
Major junctions
East end SH 1C (Lincoln Street/Greenwood Street) in Hamilton
Major intersections SH 39 (Horotiu Road/Kakaramea Road) in Whatawhata
West endGreenslade Road in Raglan
Location
CountryNew Zealand
Highway system
← SH 22→ SH 24

State Highway 23 (SH 23) is a New Zealand state highway that connects the towns of Raglan and Hamilton.[1]

Route[edit]

SH 23 commences in the Hamilton suburb of Frankton at the intersection of Massey Street and SH 1C (Lincoln Street, Greenwood Street). It travels west down Massey Street, changing to Whatawhata Road after a six-leg roundabout in the suburb of Dinsdale. After exiting Hamilton, and reaching the town of Whatawhata it shares a brief concurrency of the north–south SH 39 and crosses the Waipā River. It then continues west over the summit to the Waitetuna valley, through Te Uku and over tributaries of the Whaingaroa Harbour until reaching Raglan. The route terminates on the approach to Raglan at a point approximately 150 metres (160 yd) west of Greenslade Road.[2]

Traffic flows[edit]

Average annual daily traffic records taken by the NZ Transport Agency measures the volume of traffic is measured at roughly 13,000 vehicles per day near the eastern terminus while at km 32 closer to Raglan the AADT is measured at roughly 4500 vehicles per day.[3] SH 23 is classified by the NZTA as a primary collector highway as per the One Network Road Classification.[4]

Traffic roughly quadrupled over the period 1975 to 2018, as shown in this table and the graph derived from it.

Location 20m West of Hawk St 40m East of Newcastle Rd, Dinsdale 880m East of Kakaramea Rd, Whatawhata 200m West of Maori Point Rd, Whatawhata 90m East of Wrights Rd, near Te Uku
1975[5] 3130 1070
1976 3050 1030
1977 830
1978 1100
1979 1700 1100
1980 1650 980
1981 1800 1000
1982 1290 1050
1983 1320 2250
1984 1660 1070
1985
1986[6] 2370 1480
1987
1988[7] 2450 1520
1989[8] 2750 1760
1990[9] 3190 1750
1991[10] 2100 1600
1992[11] 3000 1670
1993[12] 3100 1900
1994[13] 3650
1995 3700 2350
1996
1997
1998[14] 5720 3970 2450
1999[15] 4380 2710
2000 9760 4380 4720 2850
2001 12930 9730 4650 5270 2910
2002 12260 9450 4710 5340 3050
2003 12610 10000 4980 5640 2990
2004[16] 12480 10220 5060 5910 3560
2005 12419 10365 4968 5771 3578
2006 12512 9720 4995 5918 3517
2007 13004 11001 5110 6284 3662
2008 12931 10360 4642 6048 3463
2009[17] 11414 10389 4893 6328 3713
2010 10967 10696 5355 6452 3731
2011 10898 10037 4745 6786 3508
2012 11459 10402 5301 6235 3745
2013[18] 11190 10842 4995 6013 3655
2014 11360 10711 5621 6429 3628
2015 11805 11008 5743 6350 4102
2016 12257 11928 6274 7522 4758
2017 12851 11854 6370 7525 4775
2018[19] 13004 12676 6396 7393 4238
2019[20] 14093 13764 6686 8287 5177
2020[20] 11976 12334 6649 8127 4917
SH23 summit, logging truck, Waitetuna valley and Mt Karioi from Karamu Walkway

Route changes[edit]

When SH 1 used to run through the Hamilton CBD, SH 23 began at the intersection of Mill Street and Ulster Street. When SH 1 was diverted westwards away from the CBD SH 23 was shortened to where its eastern terminus currently lies. In June 2021 the Raglan end was shortened by 1.09 km (0.68 mi), to a point near Greenslade Rd,[2] so as to allow more development around the road and a lower speed limit.[21] In July 2022, upon opening of the Hamilton section of the Waikato Expressway, SH 1 moved from its location through Lincoln and Greenwood Streets onto the expressway. The old designation of SH 1 through Hamilton was renumbered SH 1C.[22]

Speed limits[edit]

80 km/h (50 mph) limits apply at Whatawhata (extended westwards in 2012)[23] and Te Uku (introduced in 2012).[24]

Hamilton-Raglan bus descending from 194 m (636 ft)[25] summit. The road descends to 100 m (330 ft) in just over 1 km (0.62 mi).

Safety[edit]

In the decade to 2016 there were 10 deaths and 64 serious injuries on SH23.[26] 30% hit a roadside hazard, 40% hit an oncoming vehicle, 25% were at junctions, 47% involved alcohol and 48% driving too fast.[27] Work by the Safe Roads Alliance in 2016/17[26] on 2 of the 3 sections of road is estimated to cost $13.2m.[28]

Public transport[edit]

A public bus service which traverses the length of SH 23 is provided by Waikato Regional Council.[29]

History[edit]

The road was gazetted a State Highway in 1961. In the same year tar-sealing of the road was completed.[30] Prior to that, metalling had been completed in 1921.[31]

Until 1863 the route was only passable on foot.[32] By 1864, as part of the invasion of the Waikato, about six bridges were built to make it passable for pack horses.[33] Conversion to a road began in 1878[34] and the first stage coach ran in March 1880,[35] though the bridge over the Waipa wasn't started until late in 1880.[36] Metalling of the road began after a poll in 1907[37] and deviations were built to shorten the route,[38] including that over the summit, bypassing what is now Old Mountain Road, which was passable by 1912.[39]

Major intersections[edit]

Territorial authorityLocationkmmiDestinationsNotes
Hamilton CityHamilton00.0 SH 1C north – Auckland
Massey Hall Overbridge – City Centre
SH 1C south – Taupō		SH 23 begins
Waikato DistrictWhatawhata SH 39 south – Pirongia, ŌtorohangaStaggered T-junction
SH 39 north – NgāruawāhiaStaggered T-junction
RaglanOhautira Road – WaingaroFormerly SH 22
Manukau RoadSH 23 ends

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Highway Route 23: The Road to Raglan". Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Revoking Section of State Highway 23—Raglan - 2021-au2607 - Te Kāhiti o Aotearoa". gazette.govt.nz. 24 June 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  3. ^ "State Highway AADT booklet 2014–2018" (PDF). NZ Transport Agency. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  4. ^ "One Network Road Classification: North Island State Highways" (PDF). New Zealand Transport Agency. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 February 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  5. ^ "SH Traffic Volumes 1975-1984" (PDF).
  6. ^ "SH Traffic Volumes 1986" (PDF).
  7. ^ "SH Traffic Volumes 1988" (PDF).
  8. ^ "SH Traffic Volumes 1989" (PDF).
  9. ^ "SH Traffic Volumes 1990" (PDF).
  10. ^ "SH Traffic Volumes 1991" (PDF).
  11. ^ "SH Traffic Volumes 1992" (PDF).
  12. ^ "SH Traffic Volumes 1993" (PDF).
  13. ^ "SH Traffic Volumes 1994" (PDF).
  14. ^ "SH Traffic Volumes 1997" (PDF).
  15. ^ "SH Traffic Volumes 1999" (PDF).
  16. ^ "SH Traffic Volumes 2000-2004" (PDF).
  17. ^ "SH Traffic Volumes 2005-2009" (PDF).
  18. ^ "SH Traffic Volumes 2009-2013" (PDF).
  19. ^ "SH Traffic Volumes 2014-2018" (PDF).
  20. ^ a b "State highway traffic monitoring sites". opendata-nzta.opendata.arcgis.com. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  21. ^ "Agenda for a meeting of the Raglan Community Board" (PDF). 12 March 2019. p. 175.
  22. ^ "Hamilton section of Waikato Expressway open to traffic". NZ Transport Agency. 14 July 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  23. ^ "Waikato Region speed limit changes | NZ Transport Agency". www.nzta.govt.nz. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  24. ^ "Trial aims for safer speeds around rural schools | NZ Transport Agency". www.nzta.govt.nz. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  25. ^ "Highway Information Sheet 023-0032" (PDF). Auckland Motorways. 2015.
  26. ^ a b "SH23 Hamilton to Raglan – Safety Improvements Information sheet" (PDF). Safe Roads Alliance. 1 August 2016.
  27. ^ "State Highway 23 – Hamilton to Raglan – Safety Improvements" (PDF). Safe Roads Alliance.
  28. ^ "SH23 Hamilton to Raglan | NZ Transport Agency". www.nzta.govt.nz. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  29. ^ "23 Raglan". Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  30. ^ CW Vennell & Susan Williams: Raglan County Hills and Sea 1876–1976 p. 179
  31. ^ "RAGLAN BY THE SEA (Waikato Times, 1921-04-28)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  32. ^ "MAORI REPORT OF THE SPEECHES AT THE MEETING AT PERIA. PRESS". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 3 January 1863. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  33. ^ "DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS, THE FRONT". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 12 January 1864. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  34. ^ "Waikato Times, The Raglan Road". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 4 June 1878. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  35. ^ "Arrival of the Alabama Coach from Hamilton". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 4 March 1880. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  36. ^ "Waikato Times, The Raglan Road". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 2 October 1880. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  37. ^ "Waikato Argus, Raglan". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 20 November 1907. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  38. ^ "Waikato Argus, Raglan News". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 31 March 1908. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  39. ^ "Waikato Argus, DISTRICT NEWS RAGLAN". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 17 June 1912. Retrieved 26 October 2019.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to State Highway 23 (New Zealand).
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