The Waikato Expressway is being constructed in a number of sections. 

Opus has been involved in the scheme assessment and specimen design stages for the Hamilton and Cambridge Bypass sections and is currently part of the alliance team constructing the Te Rapa Bypass section. These sections of the Waikato Expressway are constructed on the thick alluvial sands and silts. The deep sediments and complex ground water conditions in the Waikato basin provide challenges for seismic design. Geotechnical assessment of the gully soils is complicated by the steep gully slopes, 

interbedded nature of the soils, perched and artesian water tables. The geotechnical earthquake engineering challenges involved management of liquefaction hazards and performance based design of slopes and bridge foundations. This paper discusses the liquefaction susceptibility of the Hinuera deposits, foundation concepts for bridges including discussion on soil structure interaction and managing liquefaction risks at bridges. Bridge foundation performance was analysed using finite element time history analysis.