Construction update

Welcome to the February 2019 construction update

Here is the latest from the team on what’s been happening across the Southern Corridor Improvement Project and what’s coming up.

Opening of the new Takanini northbound on-ramp

Southern Corridor Improvements Projects progress

As the SH1 motorway upgrades between Manukau and Papakura progress, motorists will now start to notice beneficial changes.

Motorists using the northbound Takanini Interchange on-ramp will notice a significant difference as of Monday 11 February 2019.

The new longer northbound on-ramp merge lane at Takanini northbound is now open to motorists. The new northbound on-ramp is a dedicated and significantly longer merge lane (approximately 700 metres long) to make it quicker and easier to merge onto the motorway, which in turn will improve northbound traffic flows and provide a more reliable trip for commuters. The new on-ramp is a significant milestone for the Southern Corridor Improvements Project.

Pahurehure Inlet Bridges

Motorists traveling across the Pahurehure Inlet would have noticed changes made late last year to the road layout. These changes have been implemented as part of the reconstruction of the inlet bridges.

To reconstruct the Pahurehure Inlet bridges, while also keeping the motorway operating, required careful planning and a staged approach. Since March 2018, motorists have been driving on the original southbound lanes to travel in both directions. With the northbound lanes now constructed, motorists can now use these lanes during the reconstruction of the southbound lanes.

In addition, the new 4.5km walking and cycling path will open between Takanini and Papakura by the end of 2019. Once complete, the new pathway will create a new leisure area for local communities and improved access to the local reserves.

Staged deconstruction night works

Stage two of the Pahurehure Inlet bridge

The second stage of the Pahurehure Inlet bridge reconstruction works has begun.

On Tuesday 29 January 2019, two 34-meter-long beams and three major deck sections were successfully removed to make way for the construction of the new southbound lanes. The crew worked through the night to remove the 60 tonne beams using two cranes to manoeuvre the beams from the bridge. For the next few weeks, further sections of the existing bridge will be removed and piling for the new bridge will commence early March.

Completion of the bridges is scheduled for the third quarter.

New wetlands near the Botanical Gardens

Keeping local waterways clean

Improving local waterways is part of the Southern Corridor Improvements Project.

Motorists heading south may have noticed the new wetland area after passing under Orams Road Bridge. Designed to create a low maintenance and more environmentally friendly motorway, these wetland areas capture and filter stormwater run-off from the motorway lanes.

The wetlands are not alone when it comes to new systems to look after the environment. Swales are also used, which are planted areas to filter out dirt and contaminants from the water before it makes its way into the stormwater system and local waterways. Planting within these wetlands and swales promotes ecological value, as well as improving the water quality.

Specific native plants, suitable for damp areas, are used including Apodasmia Similis (Oioi), Cyerus ustulatus (Toetoe), Carex lessonianan (Rautahi), Ficinia nodose (Wiwi) and Cordyline australis (Ti Kouka). The planted areas alongside the motorway may look a little bare now, however they will grow to enhance the green motorway corridor, providing a natural habitat for insects and wildlife.

Puhinui walkway open for pedestrian access

Puhinui Walkway upgrades

With the Puhinui Walkway upgrades completed late last year, the Puhinui Stream is now open for pedestrian access between Lawrence Crescent and the Botanical Gardens. The pathway was closed in late 2017 to enable upgrades of the motorway bridges above the stream.

Motorway bridges were widened in order to accommodate additional southbound lanes. Pathway upgrades were also undertaken as part of the motorway widening works.

Community meetings

Join us at one of our two meetings to meet the team and listen to a brief overview of what’s coming up in the projects final stages. Meetings will be held in both Takanini and Pukekohe, please see details below:

Takanini
Time: 5.30pm to 7.00pm, project presentation at 6.00pm
Date: Tuesday 12 February 2019
Venue: Southern Corridor Improvements Project office, 8-12 Great South Road, Takanini

Pukekohe
Time: 5.30pm to 7.00pm, project team presentation at 6.00pm
Date: Tuesday 19 February 2019
Venue: Pukekohe East Community Centre, 232 Pukekohe East Road, Pukekohe

Keep informed
We aim to keep everyone up-to-date with progress on the project with weekly road closure email notifications, construction updates and quarterly newsletters. If you would like subscribe to receive notifications visit our website: www.nzta.govt.nz/southern-corridor

More information

You can read more background information and find out more about the project through our website, www.nzta.govt.nz/southern-corridor

If you have any questions or queries, please contact our team on free phone 0800 SCI Project (0800 698 2724) or at southerncorridor@nzta.govt.nz. And feel free to visit us at the Project Office located at 8-12 Great South Road, Takanini.