State Highway 31 (New Zealand)
State Highway 31 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by NZ Transport Agency | ||||
| Length | 56.4 km (35.0 mi) | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| East end |  SH 3 (Maniapoto Street) at Ōtorohanga | |||
 SH 39 north (Ormsby Road) at Tihiroa | ||||
| West end | Pouewe Street in Kawhia | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | New Zealand | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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State Highway 31 (SH 31) is a New Zealand state highway in the Waikato region. It provides a link to the harbour town of Kawhia on the west coast of the North Island.
Route description
SH 31 route begins at SH 3 in Ōtorohanga. The first section of this route is a joint designation with SH 39. SH 31/SH 39 initially travels north-west along Kawhia Road. After 14 km and just after the locality of Tihiroa the highway meets a junction where SH 39 carries on north and SH 31 turns sharply west, staying on Kawhia Road. The road from here on is extremely windy and treachourous, having in 2012 been assessed as the state highway with the highest personal risk.[1] SH 31 eventually reaches Pouewe Street in Kawhia where it terminates.
It was classified as a state highway on 1 April 1948.[2]
Major intersections
The entire route is within Ōtorohanga District.
| Territorial authority | Location | km | mi | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ōtorohanga District | Ōtorohanga | SH 3 north – Hamilton SH 3 south – New Plymouth | SH 31 begins SH 31/SH 39 concurrency begins | ||
| Tihiroa | SH 39 north – Pirongia, Ngāruawāhia | SH 31/SH 39 concurrency ends | |||
| Kawhia | Raglan Road – Raglan | ||||
| Pouewe Street | SH 31 ends | ||||
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History
In 1885 the road crossing the river was only 6 ft (2 m) wide at Ōpārau.[3] From about 1900 a coach ran for passengers between Kawhia and Te Awamutu,[4] with a launch between Kawhia and Ōpārau.[5] Ōpārau Ferry Bridge opened in 1913.[6] In 1924 a 52 ft (16 m) concrete bridge was built over the Ōpārau to carry what is now SH 31.[7] Metalling of the road was completed in 1926.[8]
See also
References
- ^ "New Zealand's riskiest roads revealed". NZ Herald. 22 November 2012.
- ^ "AtoJs Online — Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives — 1949 Session I — D-01 MINISTRY OF WORKS STATEMENT (BY THE HON. R. SEMPLE, MINISTER OF WORKS)". atojs.natlib.govt.nz. p. 70. Retrieved 2016-05-18.
- ^ "TO KAWHIA ON WHEELS. WAIKATO TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 24 Feb 1885. Retrieved 2021-05-08.
- ^ "TE AWAMUTU. WAIKATO ARGUS". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 7 Jul 1900. Retrieved 2021-05-09.
- ^ "KAWHIA. AUCKLAND STAR". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 19 Dec 1902. Retrieved 2021-05-09.
- ^ "KAWHIA COUNTY COUNCIL. KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 28 May 1913. Retrieved 2021-05-09.
- ^ "OTOROHANGA NEWS. WAIPA POST". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 9 Oct 1924. Retrieved 2021-05-09.
- ^ "LOCAL AND GENERAL. WAIPA POST". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 27 Apr 1926. Retrieved 2021-05-09.