It opened last night, seems to be flowing well.

Google & Apple maps need to do some tidy-up work to be complete.

Doesn't look like everyone is happy.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/129256957/waikato-expressway-pothole-v-car-at-110kph-leaves-motorist-fuming 

mattwnz:

 

Doesn't look like everyone is happy.

 

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/129256957/waikato-expressway-pothole-v-car-at-110kph-leaves-motorist-fuming 

 

So the stretch of road referenced in the article is north of Hampton Downs and is not part of the expressway that has just opened. It has had its speed limit lifted from 100 to 110 km/h though.
I wonder if the wheel damage would have occurred at 100? In which case would it be a non-story because that might mean the driver should have taken the appropriate action to avoid running through it, had it occurred last week. However, WK claiming the latest ‘severe weather’ caused the problem seems a little far fetched. If a bit of heavy rain and some wind is going to damage roads that badly maybe they need to revisit their construction techniques. The Long Swamp section of the expressway was problematic during construction.
Or is it a case of the pothole being there for ages and getting steadily worse?

It may have been previously patched and then the patch fell apart? But it is something to look out for. I wonder if self driving features on some new cars would have picked up the hazard. I do wonder if the increase in speed also played a factor in terms of not seeing the hazard quick enough? Apparently just a 10km increase from 100 to 110 plays a big factor in carbon emissions, and certainly it would provide less time to notice things, as things are moving faster towards you as you drive. . 

Maybe 110 will suffice everyone, though I do wonder if more people are travelling at the kiwi limit ?
Limit plus 8-10 

mattwnz:

Doesn't look like everyone is happy.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/129256957/waikato-expressway-pothole-v-car-at-110kph-leaves-motorist-fuming 

ezbee:

 

Maybe 110 will suffice everyone, though I do wonder if more people are travelling at the kiwi limit ?
Limit plus 8-10 

 

I don't believe Speedos are accurate enough .

mattwnz: Apparently just a 10km increase from 100 to 110 plays a big factor in carbon emissions……….

 

I know the evil CO2 gets the blame for a lot of things, but affecting the road surface? (Joking)

But ‘apparently’ anything that requires more motive power to be produced, be it increased weight, incorrect tire pressure, roof boxes, trailers, etc “plays a big factor in carbon emissions”. A 10% increase in the “v” part of the drag equation leads to a 21% increase in form drag alone. Other friction type losses may be more linear.
Just look at it as plant food for the verdant Waikato fields that surround the expressway. Even the imported Indonesian coal that my car runs on is probably burnt at Huntly, and as such would benefit the same fields 🙂.

I suppose the wear/forces on road will go up roughly by square of velocity.

The potholy section would not have been a swamp before it was drained for farmland and then became ?
We might have seen this happen before. 

Is the new section a toll road?  Google maps suggests it is. Heading back from Taupo tomorrow so will get to try it out. 

Senecio:

 

Is the new section a toll road?  Google maps suggests it is. Heading back from Taupo tomorrow so will get to try it out. 

 

No.

Only three toll roads in NZ at the moment.

https://www.nzta.govt.nz/roads-and-rail/toll-roads/toll-road-information/where-the-toll-roads-are/

Dingbatt:

 

mattwnz:

 

Doesn't look like everyone is happy.

 

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/129256957/waikato-expressway-pothole-v-car-at-110kph-leaves-motorist-fuming 

 

 

So the stretch of road referenced in the article is north of Hampton Downs and is not part of the expressway that has just opened. It has had its speed limit lifted from 100 to 110 km/h though.
I wonder if the wheel damage would have occurred at 100? In which case would it be a non-story because that might mean the driver should have taken the appropriate action to avoid running through it, had it occurred last week. However, WK claiming the latest ‘severe weather’ caused the problem seems a little far fetched. If a bit of heavy rain and some wind is going to damage roads that badly maybe they need to revisit their construction techniques. The Long Swamp section of the expressway was problematic during construction.
Or is it a case of the pothole being there for ages and getting steadily worse?

 

very common around here to have potholes form every time it rains. its just substandard road building.

broken wheels are fairly common as well, that even hit the news a few years back. if its raining you can't see the potholes. they are filled with water and look like normal road. they patch them and put patches on patches to join to all the other patches.

Deanonzl:

 

It opened last night, seems to be flowing well.

 

Google & Apple maps need to do some tidy-up work to be complete.

 

 

 

Looks like Here Maps (HereWeGo previously Nokia Maps) have up to date info.

Drove the new section this morning. Good quality surface and I estimates it takes ~20mins off the trip from Auckland to anywhere that you would normally pass through Hamilton.

Google maps shows the road but it must be marked as not open yet. Kept trying to "reroute". It will sort itself out quick enough.