SH1 Papakura to Drury

Construction update

7 March 2025

Construction update | He pānui

Kia ora

Through a particularly warm summer and as we move into the autumn, construction on Stage 1B of the Papakura to Drury project has continued to pick up momentum.

Our project team has made good progress in recent weeks, particularly around local roads including Flanagan Road, Bremner Road and Victoria Street. Extensive earthworks operations are underway, laying the foundations for future infrastructure developments (see more in "Latest photos from site" section below). On the motorway, southbound traffic lanes were shifted across to the left this month, to be followed by shifting the northbound lanes this month, which will create a new work zone in the central median.

Last month we also hosted our first community information day of the year, providing an opportunity for residents and stakeholders to speak directly with the Papakura to Drury project team, and other road and rail project teams working in South Auckland. The event was the setting for lots of discussions and questions, allowing us to respond and provide clarity on different aspects of the project. We value these occasions to meet members of the community we are working in, to listen, share information and grow positive relationships. Read on to see the most frequently asked questions on the day and the answers given.

An aerial view of the two Bremner Road bridges that will be replaced – and where many underground services will be installed or upgraded.

Utility services work

A big part of infrastructure development, not usually visible to passing motorists, is the continuous upgrading and installing of underground utility services. These services cover a range of infrastructure types including fibre optic cables for communication and internet connectivity, electrical lines (both high and low voltage systems), natural gas pipelines, and water conveyance systems (for drinking water, stormwater and wastewater).

We collaborate closely with utility service providers to reduce the risk of damage to their existing networks and avoid any disruption to their services for their customers (all of us). Careful planning and coordination are essential to ensure our construction works don't affect the reliable delivery of these vital services. Meticulous documentation and communication protocols must also be set up to ensure timely responses if unforeseen complications arise.

One example of critical coordination with a service asset owner is the construction of the temporary and replacement Bremner Road bridges over Ngaakooroa Stream. Both bridges are being built under Transpower high voltage power lines. Working together with Transpower, we will get these bridges built without interrupting power supply.

Truckloads of bulk earthworks at the southern end of Victoria Street.

Stormwater drainage

A key feature of this project is the upgrade of stormwater management across the project extent to improve environmental outcomes. We will be upgrading existing drainage systems and building new stormwater drainage networks.  We will also implement a new treatment system for stormwater runoff coming from the motorway – a feature that is currently lacking.

Last month, construction teams began upgrading and expanding the stormwater system near the southern end of Victoria Street by the Drury Sports Complex. As shown in the photo above, our operations have required extensive trenching and earthworks, reflecting the scale of improvements needed. These activities are important to ensure the effective and sustainable management of stormwater as part of the project.

There was another strong turn-out at our most recent community information day.

Community information day | Te rā hapori

On 22 February, at the first of four planned community information events being held this year, we were pleased to host 221 visitors to the Drury School Hall.

Some of the common questions asked about the project were:

• What are the "bridges to nowhere"?

The three concrete structures built in 2023/24 over the railway lines by Drury Interchange are bridges that will become part the new motorway alignment, and the Drury on and off ramps, when the interchange is relocated eastwards and raised as part of the project.  They were built early to get in ahead of KiwiRail's electrification of the railway line between Papakura and Pukekohe (now completed).

• Why the temporary steel barriers on the motorway?

The newly installed temporary steel barriers beside the southbound motorway lanes are needed because the traffic lanes have been shifted across to the east, and we are also working on the motorway shoulder behind them. In late March, steel barriers will also be installed on the northbound side, shifting northbound traffic across to the west, and on either side of the central median. This traffic configuration and steel barriers will create a safe construction zone within the central median of the motorway, in the same way as we did at the beginning of Stage 1A in 2021.

• Why all the cones on SH22 and Victoria Street?

The ongoing works on Victoria Street will see the southern end of the road realigned to directly opposite Mercer Street, which will enable the installation of traffic lights at the intersection. This is required to provide safe access to Auranga and the Drury Sports Complex before the Bremner Road bridge across the motorway is demolished later this year.  Also, further to the southwest, we are installing lights at the SH22 and Great South Road intersection, which are expected to be commissioned (turned on) in April.

• Are you still building a new cycleway by the motorway?

Building a shared walking and cycling path alongside the motorway between Papakura and Drury Interchanges remains a key feature of this project. The shared path is being built during Stage 1B as additional land needed to be purchased from adjacent landowners to accommodate the path, which needed extra time to complete. The new path will be constructed on the northbound side of the motorway and will connect into the existing Southern Path between Papakura and Takanini Interchanges.

If you had wanted to come but couldn't attend this event, you can put our next community info day in your diary already – which is scheduled for Saturday 24 May 2025 at the Drury School Hall, from 10am to 1pm.

In the meantime, if you have any queries about this update or the SH1 Papakura to Drury project in general, please do not hesitate to contact us by replying to this e-newsletter or get in touch using another method provided in the "Contact Us" section below.

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
• Directional drilling new service ducts under the width of SH1 south of Bremner Road and either side of SH1 between Bremner Road bridge and the Drury Interchange
• 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
• Building a temporary bridge for Bremner Road over Ngaakooroa Stream
• Demolishing and rebuilding the existing Bremner Road bridge over the Ngaakooroa Stream
• Establishing sites either side of Otuuwairoa Stream / Slippery Creek in preparation for bridge building works
• 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
E: p2b@nzta.govt.nz
W: www.nzta.govt.nz/p2b