O Mahurangi project update

15 December 2025

Season's Greetings from O Mahurangi Penlink Alliance

As we head to towards the end of the year, we want to thank everyone for your support and understanding as we build a new highway to connect Whangaparāoa Peninsula with State Highway 1.  This new connection will provide an alternative to the current single access route via Whangaparāoa Road, improving transport resilience, unlocking land for housing, and supporting economic growth across north Auckland.

See below for some photos of what we’ve achieved in 2025.

Our teams will take a well-deserved break from Monday 22 December until Monday 5 January 2026. A few teams may still be working on Monday 22 and Tuesday 23 December, so you might see some activity on those days.

Regular site checks will be carried out during the holiday period. Please remember that our work area is an active construction site and is not safe for public access at any time.

We wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season.

Wēiti River bridge construction journey so far

This video shows progress on the largest of six bridges under construction, the Wēiti River bridge.

Multiple cranes work across the Wēiti River to construct two V-shaped pylons (vertical support structures) that will eventually stand 60 metres tall.

Work on the bridge super-structure has started, and we’re getting ready to install the form travellers, special movable platforms that help us build the bridge deck section by section. This means we’ll start building the deck in early 2026.

The bridge will be 535 metres long and will sit 45 metres above the water. It's designed to carry vital services like water, power, communications, and wastewater.

It'll have two vehicle lanes and a 3.5-metre shared path for walking and cycling. Its deck width allows for future bus lanes, supporting long-term growth in the region.

2025 progress - massive change is underway

As 2025 draws to a close, we’re making progress reshaping access to Whangaparāoa Peninsula. So far, we have achieved:

• Over 1 million cubic metres of earth moved
• 2 of the 6 bridges completed
• 2300 metres of drainage laid and 83 manholes installed.

Not all our construction is visible to local communities so here are some images showing how the 2025-year ends.

Duck Creek Road being prepared to open to two lanes

New section of Duck Creek Road open for Stillwater residents

Stillwater residents are now driving over the new bridge on Duck Creek Road, and enjoying a new section of road that opened to two lanes on 11 December.

We’ve still got a bit to go, and in early 2026 we’ll need to return to one lane on a small section of Duck Creek Road, but we’ll share all the details in the new year.

To the residents of Stillwater: thank you for your patience and understanding. Enjoy your new road over the holiday season!

Safe summer travel across the network

The annual holiday shutdown across the state highway network is from midday Friday 19 December 2025 to 11.59pm Sunday 4 January.

Top tips for a safer trip:

• Plan ahead – check our real-time Journey Planner before you leave for the latest information on road works, traffic, road closures and delays. Journey Planner
• Allow plenty of time and expect delays at peak travel periods
• Drive to the conditions – whether it’s the weather, the road, the traffic, or the time of day
• Take breaks – share the driving and stop regularly
• Avoid distractions and put the phone away
• Buckle up – every trip, every seat
• Be patient – you’re on holiday, there’s no need to sleigh the speed limit
• Check your vehicle before travelling – tyres, brakes, wipers, lights, cooling system and WOF. A quick check can keep you and your whānau safe, and also save you money with better fuel efficiency.

More information

For more information on the O Mahurangi project, contact us at omahurangi@nzta.govt.nz or by calling 0800 7365 465.

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/penlink.