Waihoehoe Road upgrade project update

4 September 2023

Nau mai haere mai | Come and join us

Come and meet the team at another community information day 10AM-1PM on Saturday 9 September at Drury Hall (10 Tui Street, Drury 2113).

Other South Auckland transport project teams will be there including:

• SH22 Drury upgrade
• SH1 Papakura to Drury
• KiwiRail - for Southern Stations and Electrification to Pukekohe
• Te Tupu Ngātahi Supporting Growth – for Pukekohe Arterials and South Frequent Transit Network (FTN) bus routes.

Te kaupapa | About the project

What is the Waihoehoe Road upgrade project?

The upgrade is on 400 metres of Waihoehoe Road between Great South Road and Kath Henry Lane.

The government through the New Zealand Upgrade Programme is funding the project to give people more transport choices – safer and more reliable journeys; options to walk, cycle or use public transport; and options that help reduce carbon emissions.

The project aims to make it easy for people to reach the planned Drury Railway Station and new housing being built – and includes:

• additional lanes (from two to four, and up to six lanes on Waihoehoe Road bridge)
• signalised intersections at Waihoehoe Road/Great South Road and Waihoehoe Road/Kath Henry Lane to improve safety
• walking and bike paths separated from vehicles
• bus lanes
• a new, higher bridge over the North Island Main Trunk Line to enable rail improvements – including the Papakura to Pukekohe rail line electrification, which will provide faster, quieter, cleaner and more reliable connections for communities and businesses. The bridge is also going to be widened for the future 4-tracking of the North Island main trunk line.
• a new Waihoehoe Road bridge to replace the existing bridge which is too low for KiwiRail’s planned railway improvements and does not have the capacity to support the expected population growth in the area.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is partnering with Mana Whenua (Ngaati Te Ata Waiohua, Ngāti Tamaoho, Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, Te Ākitai Waiohua, Ngaati Whanaunga, Ngāti Maru, Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust, Ngāti Paoa Trust Board, Te Ahiwaru, Ngāti Tamaterā Treaty Settlement Trust), KiwiRail and Auckland Transport, to deliver the Waihoehoe Road upgrade project.

The project is among $2.7 billion of transport improvements in South Auckland being delivered under the New Zealand Upgrade Programme.

The government has provided funding for the pre-implementation phase of the project. This phase includes site investigations to develop land requirement plans, detailed designs to support consent lodgements, and purchase of required land.

You can see the indicative project designs (under development) below.

View larger image here

Why are these changes needed?

South Auckland is growing fast, with an additional 120,000 people expected to make it their home during the next 30 years.

We’re planning early to ensure the infrastructure is in place to give the growing community more travel choices to get people where they want to go safely, while supporting the response to climate change.

The project will support population growth in the area. In November 2022, Auckland Council approved zoning changes for the land around Drury Railway Station and along Waihoehoe Road to provide for urbanisation. There are several private developments planned for the Drury area which will provide a mix of commercial, retail and residential development. Earthworks have already started for some developments.

Rārangi wā | Project timeline

We will seek your feedback on the designs and will keep you updated throughout the project lifecycle.

September 2023

• We want to hear your thoughts on how the project can create positive outcomes. Talk to us at the 9 September info day (10AM-1PM, Drury Hall).

November 2023

• We will share the updated design layout and seek your feedback on areas for further development.
• We also want to explore any concerns you may have about construction impacts so we can make plans early to minimise disruptions.

Early-mid 2024

• We will seek your feedback to inform the final detailed designs.
• We will talk with those directly impacted by construction works to inform planning for the physical works.

He kōrero mā ngā hāpori | Community engagement

Since November 2022 we have been attending community information days at Drury Hall alongside teams from other South Auckland transport projects.

The 17 June 2023 information day at Drury Hall attracted 155 people.

Ngā pātai auau | Frequently asked questions

How was the alignment for the new bridge (north of the existing bridge) decided?

The new Waihoehoe bridge is being designed within the confirmed designation Auckland Transport Designation 1840 Jesmond to Waihoehoe West FTN Upgrade.

As part of preparing the Notice of Requirement for the designation, Te Tupu Ngātahi Supporting Growth Alliance investigated three potential options for a new bridge and recommended the alignment north of the existing bridge.

In April 2022, an Auckland Council Independent Hearing Commissioners panel recommended the Notice of Requirement be confirmed.

Auckland Council included the designation in the Auckland Unitary Plan in April 2023.

More information about the options considered during the designation process is available on Auckland Council’s website.

What is intended for 232 Great South Road and those businesses impacted by the project?

For all properties affected by the project we are discussing options with owners and then tenants as a first step. These discussions remain confidential at this point. The project team is working hard to mitigate impacts of the project on directly affected landowners, businesses and the community.

When will we know which properties are required for the project?

We have confirmed land requirements for several properties and are currently finalising land requirements for the remaining properties. We will communicate first with directly affected landowners.

Project contacts

For more information and to sign-up for future newsletters, visit the project webpage or contact the project team:

P: 0800 888 947

E: waihoehoeroad@nzta.govt.nz

W: www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/waihoehoe-road-upgrade/