New Zealand State Highway 57
Encyclopedia
State Highway 57 is a New Zealand
State Highway
, linking State Highway 1 north of Ohau
to State Highway 3
east of Ashhurst
, via Levin
, Shannon
, Massey University
and the southern suburbs of Palmerston North
. The highway connects State Highway 1 traffic coming north from Wellington
to the city of Palmerston North, and further to the Manawatu Gorge
, allowing passage to the eastern side of the North Island and to the twin cities of Napier
and Hastings
.
State Highway 57 broadly follows the route of the North Island Main Trunk railway line to Linton, then follows the route of the Manawatu River
for the remainder of its length. For its entire length, the highway is single carriageway with frequent passing lanes and at-grade intersections.
SH 57 proceeds straight to Ihakara, before gently winding its way over Laws Hill to the southeastern corner of the town of Shannon. The highway S-bends through the town, ending up running parallel to the North Island Main Trunk as it exits the town. SH 57 runs straight parallel to the NIMT for five kilometres to Makerua, where the highway meets State Highway 56, the only state highway met by SH 57 other than at its termini.
The highway moves its route away from the railway line, meandering to the east slightly and crossing the many branches of the Tokomaru River, a tributary to the Manawatu River. SH 56 then passes through Tokomaru
, then briefly runs parallel to the NIMT again for the last time before it crosses the Manawatu River to Palmerston North.
SH 57 continues in a northeasterly direction through the locality of Linton, then proceeds to the Linton Military Camp, passing south of the actual camp itself. West of the military camp, SH 57 intersects with Tennant Drive, which takes traffic off the highway for the city of Palmerston North. As the connection from Tennant Drive to SH 57 southbound is given priority, SH 57 itself turns right onto Old West Road, passing south of the campus of Massey University
, to Summerhill.
At Summerhill, SH 57 turns right onto Aokautere Drive, while the road to the left proceeds into Palmerston North. The highway passes north of the International Pacific College
and through the outlying Palmerston North suburb of Summerhill. Much of Summerhill has only been developed since the late 1990s, so most of the suburb has been built with State Highway 57 as the arterial route. Leaving Summerhill, the road meets up with the Manawatu River and follows it general route for the remainder of the highways length.
At Aokautere, the highway intersects with the northern end of the Pahiatua Track, a local route over the northern foothills of the Tararua Ranges to the town of Pahiatua
. This road is hevily trafficked in the event of the closure of the Manawatu Gorge due to slips. State Highway 57 between Aokautere and Ashhurst is then used to take traffic from State Highway 3 to the Pahiatua Track.
From Aokautere, the highway proceeds straight on the southern banks of the Manawatu River to the western end of the Manawatu Gorge. Two kilometres southeast of the town of Ashhurst, and one kilometre form the western end of the Manawatu Gorge, State Highway 57 meets State Highway 3 and terminates.
The 19 km section of State Highway 57 between the Tennant Drive intersection and State Highway 3 at Ashhurst was once designated State Highway 57A. SH 57 itself used to follow Tennant Drive around the northern side of the Massey University campus, then cross over the Manawatu River on the Fitzherbert Bridge into Palmerston North. It followed Fitzherbert Avenue as far as Fergusson Street, where it terminated onto State Highway 56, which connected Sh57 to State Highway 3 via Fergusson Street and Princess Street. State Highway 57 replaced State Highway 57A, and the route into Palmerston North lost its State Highway status.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
State Highway
New Zealand State Highway network
The New Zealand State Highway network is the major national highway network in New Zealand. Just under 100 roads in both the North and South Islands are State Highways...
, linking State Highway 1 north of Ohau
Ohau
Ohau may refer to:*Lake Ohau*Ohau River*Ohau *Ohau A power station*Ohau B power station*Ohau C power station...
to State Highway 3
New Zealand State Highway 3
State Highway 3 is one of New Zealand's eight national highways. It serves the west coast of the country's North Island and forms a link between State Highway 1 and State Highway 2...
east of Ashhurst
Ashhurst
Ashhurst is a small town in the Manawatu-Wanganui region of New Zealand's North Island.-Location, features:Ashhurst is sited 14 kilometres northeast of the city of Palmerston North and is a small rural town....
, via Levin
Levin
Levin may refer to many things:In people:*Levin is a common Jewish surname, indicating descent from the tribe of Levi. For people with the surname Levin or Levina, see Levin .In places:...
, Shannon
Shannon, New Zealand
Shannon is a small town in the Horowhenua District of New Zealand's North Island. it is located 28 kilometres southwest of Palmerston North and 15 kilometres northeast of Levin. The town's population at the 2006 census was 1506....
, Massey University
Massey University
Massey University is one of New Zealand's largest universities with approximately 36,000 students, 20,000 of whom are extramural students.The University has campuses in Palmerston North , Wellington and Auckland . Massey offers most of its degrees extramurally within New Zealand and internationally...
and the southern suburbs of Palmerston North
Palmerston North
Palmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank...
. The highway connects State Highway 1 traffic coming north from Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
to the city of Palmerston North, and further to the Manawatu Gorge
Manawatu Gorge
The Manawatu Gorge runs between the Ruahine and Tararua Ranges of the North Island of New Zealand, linking the Manawatu and Hawke's Bay regions...
, allowing passage to the eastern side of the North Island and to the twin cities of Napier
Napier, New Zealand
Napier is a New Zealand city with a seaport, located in Hawke's Bay on the eastern coast of the North Island. The population of Napier is about About 18 kilometres south of Napier is the inland city of Hastings. These two neighboring cities are often called "The Twin Cities" or "The Bay Cities"...
and Hastings
Hastings, New Zealand
The city of Hastings is a major urban settlement in the Hawke's Bay region of the North Island of New Zealand, and it is the largest settlement by population in Hawke's Bay. Hastings city is the administrative centre of the Hastings District...
.
State Highway 57 broadly follows the route of the North Island Main Trunk railway line to Linton, then follows the route of the Manawatu River
Manawatu River
The Manawatu River is a major river of the southern North Island of New Zealand.The river has its headwaters to the northwest of Norsewood in the Ruahine Ranges of southern Hawke's Bay. It flows initially eastward before turning south-west near Ormondville, flowing 40 km before turning...
for the remainder of its length. For its entire length, the highway is single carriageway with frequent passing lanes and at-grade intersections.
Route
State Highway 57 starts south of Levin, 2 km north of the locality of Ohau. The highway immediately crosses the North Island Main Trunk at level, before heading eastwards on Kimberley Road for two kilometres. SH 57 then turns sharply left onto Arapaepae Road and heads northwards, bypassing and forming the eastern boundary of Levin.SH 57 proceeds straight to Ihakara, before gently winding its way over Laws Hill to the southeastern corner of the town of Shannon. The highway S-bends through the town, ending up running parallel to the North Island Main Trunk as it exits the town. SH 57 runs straight parallel to the NIMT for five kilometres to Makerua, where the highway meets State Highway 56, the only state highway met by SH 57 other than at its termini.
The highway moves its route away from the railway line, meandering to the east slightly and crossing the many branches of the Tokomaru River, a tributary to the Manawatu River. SH 56 then passes through Tokomaru
Tokomaru
Tokomaru may refer to:*Tokomaru Bay, the name of a bay and town in the East Cape of New Zealand*Tokomaru, New Zealand, a town in the Horowhenua district of New Zealand*Tokomaru , a Māori migration canoe...
, then briefly runs parallel to the NIMT again for the last time before it crosses the Manawatu River to Palmerston North.
SH 57 continues in a northeasterly direction through the locality of Linton, then proceeds to the Linton Military Camp, passing south of the actual camp itself. West of the military camp, SH 57 intersects with Tennant Drive, which takes traffic off the highway for the city of Palmerston North. As the connection from Tennant Drive to SH 57 southbound is given priority, SH 57 itself turns right onto Old West Road, passing south of the campus of Massey University
Massey University
Massey University is one of New Zealand's largest universities with approximately 36,000 students, 20,000 of whom are extramural students.The University has campuses in Palmerston North , Wellington and Auckland . Massey offers most of its degrees extramurally within New Zealand and internationally...
, to Summerhill.
At Summerhill, SH 57 turns right onto Aokautere Drive, while the road to the left proceeds into Palmerston North. The highway passes north of the International Pacific College
International Pacific College
The International Pacific College is a tertiary education provider offering NZQA-accredited diplomas and graduate diplomas as well as bachelor's and master's degree...
and through the outlying Palmerston North suburb of Summerhill. Much of Summerhill has only been developed since the late 1990s, so most of the suburb has been built with State Highway 57 as the arterial route. Leaving Summerhill, the road meets up with the Manawatu River and follows it general route for the remainder of the highways length.
At Aokautere, the highway intersects with the northern end of the Pahiatua Track, a local route over the northern foothills of the Tararua Ranges to the town of Pahiatua
Pahiatua
Pahiatua is a rural service town in the south-eastern North Island of New Zealand with an urban and rural population of over 4,000. It is between Masterton and Woodville on State Highway 2 and the Wairarapa Line railway, north of Masterton and east of Palmerston North...
. This road is hevily trafficked in the event of the closure of the Manawatu Gorge due to slips. State Highway 57 between Aokautere and Ashhurst is then used to take traffic from State Highway 3 to the Pahiatua Track.
From Aokautere, the highway proceeds straight on the southern banks of the Manawatu River to the western end of the Manawatu Gorge. Two kilometres southeast of the town of Ashhurst, and one kilometre form the western end of the Manawatu Gorge, State Highway 57 meets State Highway 3 and terminates.
History
State Highway 57 once started in central Levin, turning right off SH 1 Oxford Street into Queen Street East, then turning left onto Arapaepae Road. The route was later moved 4 km south to Kimberley Road, avoiding Levin.The 19 km section of State Highway 57 between the Tennant Drive intersection and State Highway 3 at Ashhurst was once designated State Highway 57A. SH 57 itself used to follow Tennant Drive around the northern side of the Massey University campus, then cross over the Manawatu River on the Fitzherbert Bridge into Palmerston North. It followed Fitzherbert Avenue as far as Fergusson Street, where it terminated onto State Highway 56, which connected Sh57 to State Highway 3 via Fergusson Street and Princess Street. State Highway 57 replaced State Highway 57A, and the route into Palmerston North lost its State Highway status.
Major Junctions
| Territorial authority | Location | km | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horowhenua District Horowhenua District Horowhenua is a district on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It forms part of the Manawatu-Wanganui Region.Located north of Wellington and Kapiti, the district stretches from slightly north of the town of Otaki in the south to just south of Himatangi in the north, and from the... |
Ohau | 0.0 |  SH 1 south — Wellington |
SH 57 begins |
| SH 1 north — Levin, Taupo Taupo Taupo is a town on the shore of Lake Taupo in the centre of the North Island of New Zealand. It is the seat of the Taupo District Council and lies in the southern Waikato Region.... |
||||
| Levin | 5.7 | Queen Street East — Levin | ||
| Makerua | 26.0 | SH 56 — Palmerston North (Alternative Route) | ||
| Palmerston North City Palmerston North Palmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank... |
Linton Military Camp | 46 | Tennant Drive — Palmerston North | |
| Summerhill | 50.0 | Summerhill Drive — Palmerston North | ||
| Aokautere | 53.5 | Pahiatua Track — Pahiatua | ||
| Ashhurst | 65.0 |  SH 3New Zealand State Highway 3 State Highway 3 is one of New Zealand's eight national highways. It serves the west coast of the country's North Island and forms a link between State Highway 1 and State Highway 2... west — Ashhurst, Palmerston North |
SH 57 ends | |
| SH 3 New Zealand State Highway 3 State Highway 3 is one of New Zealand's eight national highways. It serves the west coast of the country's North Island and forms a link between State Highway 1 and State Highway 2... east — Woodville Woodville, New Zealand Woodville is a small town in the southern North Island of New Zealand, 75 km north of Masterton and 25 km east of Palmerston North. In the 2006 census 1,398 people are usually resident in Woodville, a decrease of 81 people, or 5.5%, since the 2001 Census.-Early History and Local... , Napier |