mix concrete used in Hawke’s Bay Expressway upgrade a nationwide first
The Hawke’s Bay Expressway upgrade in New Zealand is utilizing lean mix concrete (LMC) as a primary structural base layer for the first time on a national highway. This engineering approach aims to improve pavement durability and load distribution in areas with variable ground conditions.
Why it matters
This project represents a significant shift in civil engineering practices for New Zealand's infrastructure, potentially setting a new standard for road construction longevity and efficiency.
Jacob Laird, principal project manager of the Hawke's Bay Expressway expansion, inset, and progress at the Tutaekuri River Bridge.
The foundation of the Hawke’s Bay Expressway’s upgrade is a national first.
The four-laning of the Hawke’s Bay Expressway started construction in November 2025, the first road of national significance to do so.
Utilising a specialised paving machine, the project was one of the first large-scale applications of lean mix concrete (LMC) as a pavement base layer on New Zealand’s state highway network.
Jacob Laird, New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) principal project manager, said traditionally, state highways were constructed using layers of compacted granular materials, commonly crushed rock aggregates, with asphalt surfacing placed above.
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