Project Update

Kia ora everyone, we hope you and your whānau are safe and well as 2020 has been a difficult year for many of us.  As it draws to a close and summer holidays beckon, we look forward to a brighter and safer 2021.

Next year will signal the start of construction on the first stage of the SH1 Papakura to Drury South project between Papakura and the Drury BP motorway service centre. At the same time, work will continue on other project stages as they are progressively consented.

The project is part of a longer-term transport network being investigated and delivered to support growth in south Auckland. The improvements will provide better transport choices for existing communities and the extra 120,000 people who will make the area home in the next 30 years.

Through the Government’s New Zealand Upgrade Programme, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and KiwiRail will begin construction of $2.395 billion of transport improvements for south Auckland within the next three years.  As well as Papakura to Drury South, this includes the Mill Road project, Papakura to Pukekohe rail electrification and new rail stations for Drury.

To maintain momentum despite the various challenges this year, we have progressed design and consenting and the procurement process on the project. Our consultants have been collaborating across time zones and countries to keep the project moving ahead.

While project work continues in the office and discussions with affected landowners are ongoing, we are now heading into the community for a series of information events. At these, you can come and talk to the project team to learn more about the project and keep up with the latest progress. We look forward to seeing you at one of them in the next few weeks.

Check further below for communnity information event details.

Procurement for construction

The Papakura to Drury South project's Physical Works tender (the contract to build the project) for the first stage of the project closes this Thursday (26 November).

We expect to award the contract and for construction to start on the first stage (between Papakura and the Drury BP motorway service centre) in the first few months of 2021.

We are looking to build the project as time and cost effectively as possible with minimised disruption to users of the highway.

Project bridges

A key feature of our project is the number of bridges that are being replaced or altered to address issues such as the approaching electrification of the Papakura to Pukekohe rail line and to respond to climate change.

• The Park Estate Road and Bremner Road bridges are being replaced and raised to provide for additional lanes underneath, improved vehicle clearance and walking and cycling paths.
• The Otūwairoa (Slippery Creek) motorway bridges are being replaced and raised to provide for additional lanes, respond to the effects of climate change and to improve flood resilience.
• The Ngakoroa stream bridge on Bremner Road is also being replaced and raised to respond to the effects of climate change.
• Drury interchange will effectively be rebuilt as three bridges across the rail line will be replaced and raised to allow for the electrification of the Papakura to Pukekohe rail line and additional rail line/s underneath.
• The motorway bridge over Great South Road at Drury interchange will also be replaced and raised to provide for over-dimension vehicles.

Meet the man behind the bridges

The person who leads bridge design for the Papakura to Drury South project is Richard Nutton. For 23 years, he’s been designing and constructing every type of bridge all over the world.

“For me the bridges symbolise and physically connect people and communities and have the potential to provide a landmark, identity or enhance an area. I love my work and the opportunity and the responsibility to make a positive contribution to society. This project will make a real improvement to the transport network in south Auckland with benefits for all.”

Outside of work, Richard is a keen cyclist who also enjoys tramping and being outdoors.

With two young boys who love anything to do with the water, Richard and his wife Sue keep active.

“Working on the project has helped me learn more about the south and the recreational opportunities it offers.”

Meet the highway designer

Our road design lead Richard Lauren has a special interest in the benefits the project will bring. He is a Papakura resident (having traded the city centre for the south four years ago) and enjoys the easy access to mountain biking trails, parks and bush walks with his dog Basil and great weekend motorbike rides.

Richard, brings 20 years’ experience designing roads and highways around the world and on Auckland projects such as Northern Busway, SH18 Hobsonville Motorway and the SH20 Waterview Connection.

"I enjoy the challenge of designing motorways in Auckland’s highly constrained environment and try to find innovative ways to deliver transport infrastructure that gets used by thousands of people every day. It’s a bit like a real life version of SimCity."

"I’m also keen to enjoy the benefits of the project when it’s finished such as more reliable travel times and the new walking and cycling path that gives access to previously inaccessible parts of Papakura and Drury."

Community information events

We’ll be out and about in the next two weeks with local community events to update people on the project and its progress.

It’s also a chance for you to meet and talk with some of the project team and for us to learn more about your key interests and concerns.

At the markets and sports venue we’ll have a stall and at the others we hope to catch people as they pass through the petrol stations or call into their local Lotto store. 

Hopefully there is something near and convenient to you and we look forward to meeting you and answering any questions you may have about the project.

Papakura to Drury South project fast facts

• 10km of new traffic lanes and bus shoulder lanes in each direction
• 9km of new walking and cycling paths
• 100+ sites with geotechnical investigations — more to come
• 100% of highway stormwater treated
• 20%* increase in people moving through at morning peak
• 14%* increase in freight moving through at morning peak

*Based on traffic modelling for year 2046.

More information

For more information on the SH1 Papakura to Drury South project, contact us at p2b@nzta.govt.nz

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/p2b