SH1 Papakura to Drury

Construction update

11 February 2025

Construction update | He pānui

Kia ora

We hope you had an enjoyable summer break and are now refreshed for the year ahead.

Since our return to work on 6 January, the Papakura to Drury (P2D) team has been hard at work. We began our year with a 'first day back' workshop (see photo above), focusing on the critical risks and the inherent dangers associated with working alongside a live motorway carrying around 75,000 vehicles daily. As always, there was an emphasis on prioritising road user and team safety to ensure everyone returns home safely at the end of every day.

Following a controlled start, site works are now ramping up. Stage 1B is the second and last stage of the P2D project, expected to be completed in late 2030.

Over the past month, one focus of work has been building a temporary bridge over Ngaakooroa Stream, just west of SH1 on Bremner Road, which will enable the replacement of the existing bridge over the stream. Work has also begun on widening the motorway in the Stage 1B area. Read on to find out more.

We also have our next community information day coming up later this month, on Saturday 22 February at the Drury School Hall in Young Crescent, Drury. This event is a great opportunity for you to meet and speak with members of our P2D project team, learn more about the project and have your questions answered.

Road widening begins on the northbound side of the motorway, south of Drury Interchange.

Works begin on SH1 | Ka tīmata ngā mahi

While, over the past two months, we have been working on other sections of the project, this month we began works on the motorway itself.

North of Drury, over the past two weeks, we have been conducting on-site surveys and laying asphalt during night closures. These preparatory activities will enable the realignment of the southbound lanes across to the east at the beginning of next week. Later, in March, the northbound lanes will also be temporarily realigned to the west. This temporary traffic layout will create a new construction zone within the central median of the motorway.

Just south of Drury Interchange, we have started widening earthworks on the northbound shoulder of SH1 (see photo above). Following this widening and the laying of asphalt, the northbound lanes will also be moved across to the western side of the motorway. We will then pave the southbound side and realign those lanes to the east. This will create a new construction zone within the central median, similar to north of Drury Interchange.

An aerial view of the two Bremner Road bridges that will be replaced – over SH1 and Ngaakooroa Stream.

Replacing bridges | Whakahou piriti

Stage 1B of the project includes the replacement of two bridges on Bremner Road near Drury Interchange – one spanning the motorway and the other over nearby Ngaakooroa Stream.  The first must be replaced to fit more motorway lanes underneath, the second for safety and visibility reasons because the first bridge is being replaced. For practical reasons, the bridge across the stream will be replaced first.

Prior to demolishing the current stream bridge, a temporary single-lane steel truss bridge is being built on the southern side of the existing bridge. Traffic on the truss bridge will be controlled by temporary traffic lights to maintain access in and out of the Auranga community to the west.  The temporary bridge will include a shared footpath and cycle path.

Our construction works at the site include large earthworks and vegetation clearance, which began last year. Crane platforms on both sides of Ngaakooroa Stream were completed last week and piling the foundations of the temporary bridge will begin in March. The steel truss bridge will be built using prefabricated components that will be transported to and then assembled onsite – because we can't lift a complete bridge into position due to the low-hanging power lines above the stream.

When the temporary bridge is completed mid-year, Auranga traffic will be moved over onto it.  The existing Ngaakooroa Stream overbridge can then be demolished, and a higher bridge rebuilt in its current position.

Later this year, after the new traffic lights at the Victoria Street / SH22 / Mercer Street intersection are completed (read more below), we will demolish the Bremner Road bridge over the motorway. Demolition of this overbridge will mirror the methodology used to demolish the Park Estate Road bridge during Stage 1A of the project. You can view the Park Estate Road bridge demolition video here.

An aerial view of SH22 just west of Drury Interchange – both the Victoria / Mercer Street and the Great South Road intersections with SH22 are being signalised.

New traffic lights on SH22 | Ngā rama hou

As part of the project, the SH22 intersection with Victoria and Mercer Streets beside Drury Interchange is being upgraded. This will be done by realigning the mouth of Victoria Street directly opposite Mercer Street, and then installing traffic lights to enhance safety - particularly for motorists turning right onto SH22.

The intersection of Victoria Street with SH22 will be closed this month to allow the realignment work to begin.  During the closure, access to the Drury sports complex will be maintained via the northern end of Victoria Street, from Bremner Road.

The closure of this intersection will also affect the current Over-Dimension (OD) trucking route along Victoria Street, which will be temporarily diverted to the east of SH1 along Waihoehoe, Fitzgerald and Maketu Roads. Preparations along the OD detour route, such as tree trimming and relocation of low overhead power lines, were largely completed last year.

Once the traffic lights are completed and Victoria Street reopened around mid-year, the demolition and ultimate replacement of the Bremner Road bridge over SH1 can start.

Further to the west, work began in early January to upgrade the intersection of SH22 and Great South Road to traffic lights, beginning with the removal of the existing traffic islands at the intersection. While the road layout remains largely unchanged, temporary speed limits are in effect, and lane widths have been temporarily reduced during the works.

The project team is currently working to install the underground ducts that will accommodate the wiring needed for the lights, widening the road and making shoulder improvements. The traffic lights at the SH22/Great South Road intersection are expected to be completed in April this year.

Latest photos from site | Ngā pikitia

We are working across the site, with piling works, environmental controls, and earthworks.

Looking ahead | E haere ake nei

During the coming months, our project works include:

• Building a large retaining wall needed for the realignment of Flanagan Road (on the southeastern side of Drury Interchange)
• Continuing with underground service investigations around Drury Interchange - including on the motorway, Great South Road, SH22, Bremner Road, Victoria Street and Mercer Street
• Working to realign the Victoria Street intersection with SH22 before installing traffic lights
• Continuing works at the SH22 / Great South Road intersection to install traffic lights
• Demolishing and rebuilding the existing Bremner Road bridge over the Ngaakooroa Stream
• Starting construction works in the central median of the motorway between the BP motorway service centre and Drury Interchange.

Contact us | Whakapā mai

For further information regarding the project, please contact our team:

P: 0800 796 796 - for construction-related queries
P: 0800 741 722 - for general project queries
E: p2b@nzta.govt.nz
W: www.nzta.govt.nz/p2b