Papakura to Drury South project - NZ Upgrade Programme

NZ Upgrade Programme impacts this project

On 29 January 2020, the Government announced the New Zealand Upgrade Programme, which provides investment in 24 transport projects throughout New Zealand. In the south of Auckland this includes:
• $423 million for SH1 improvements between Papakura and Drury South
• $371 million for Papakura to Pukekohe rail electrification
• $247 million for two new rail stations in Drury
• $1.354 billion for Mill Road (between Manukau and Drury).

The announcement of this programme brings forward the delivery timeframe for SH1 improvements on the Southern Motorway between Drury and Drury South, previously expected in the 10+ year timeframe.

The new Drury South interchange will be situated between the Drury and Ramarama interchanges and connect into the Mill Road project between Manukau and Drury South to accommodate future growth for Drury. The Programme is looking ahead at where growth will be occurring throughout the country and building the roads, pathways and rail that people need now, instead of having to play catch-up with housing developments in decades to come.

For more information on the NZ Upgrade Programme in Auckland, visit:
https://www.nzta.govt.nz/planning-and-investment/nz-upgrade/auckland-package/

For more information on the Papakura to Drury South project, visit: https://nzta.govt.nz/planning-and-investment/nz-upgrade/auckland-package/papakura-to-drury-south/

Aerial view SH1 northbound towards Park Estate bridge and Hingaia

Project staging and timelines

Stage 1
Stage 1 of the Papakura and Bombay project runs along the Southern Motorway (SH1) between Papakura and Drury.

For practical reasons, Stage 1 has been divided into two sub-stages for consenting purposes – works within the existing motorway designation and works outside the designation (for which additional land will be needed).

Stage 1 includes:
• A third lane in each direction
• Wide shoulders to future-proof for public transport services
• A shared walking and cycling path along the northbound side (outside designation)
• Interchange improvements*
• Improved local road connections across the motorway.
[*At Drury, interchange improvements will allow electrification of the rail line and future-proofing for additional rail line/s.]

Consents for Stage 1 works within the existing designation were lodged with Auckland Council prior to Christmas, and approvals are expected shortly. Following this, a construction contract will be tendered and awarded, and construction on this stage will begin in 2020.

Stage 2
Stage 2 of the project runs between Drury and the new Drury South Interchange and will include similar improvements to Stage 1. The new Drury South interchange will connect to the Mill Road project, announced as part of the NZ Upgrade Programme. It will also become the connection point for the future Pukekohe Expressway, another strategic transport project being developed under the Supporting Growth Programme.

Stages 1 and 2 are being constructed as part of the NZ Upgrade Programme, and are expected to be completed by late 2025.

Notices of Requirement and consents for Stage 1 (outside designation) and Stage 2 are expected to be lodged later this year and in 2021.

Stage 3
Stage 3 of the Papakura to Bombay project extends from Drury South to Bombay.

At this time, there is no anticipated start date for construction on Stage 3, and it is likely to be built in the longer term. The intention is to apply for route protection approvals on this section in 2021, alongside the other long-term projects in the Supporting Growth Programme.

GPR surveying at Otūwairoa/Slippery Creek - March 2020

Project works update

We have been working hard on delivering improvements to SH1 between Papakura and Bombay.

Over the last couple of months you may have seen us out doing some geotechnical investigations between the Papakura Interchange and the Bremner Road bridge. We’ve been investigating ground conditions using different methods such as Cone Penetration Testing (CPT), borehole drilling and hand auger sampling. We’ve been testing the ground conditions to understand the geology of the area to help us with construction, as well as the design to widen SH1 and add a shared walking and cycling pathway. These tests have also been done to understand the potential risk to construction workers and the environment as well as to inform the planning and consents process.  For this section of road, we expect construction will start in 2020.

Recently in March, a GPR (ground penetrating radar) survey has been undertaken at Otūwairoa/Slippery Creek, which has been identified as an area of cultural significance.  The survey will help inform our archeological understanding of the site.

We’ve also been busy working with Mana Whenua on the design of the Park Estate Bridge, which will be replaced as part of the project. The area of the project where Park Estate Bridge is located was once a significant source of food for iwi. In addition to extensive cultivation, local Mana Whenua also traded their produce with neighbouring iwi right across Tāmaki Makaurau. This important history will be represented in various forms across the project, including the bridge which will include detailed side panelling that reflects a kono – a food basket that is traditionally woven with harakeke (flax).

In addition to connecting communities on either side of the highway, the new bridge will also include upgraded pipes that will carry fresh water from one side of Park Estate Road to the other. Initially only one pipe will be installed, while the bridge will be future-proofed for a second pipe.

While work out in the field has currently been put on hold due to COVID-19, we continue to work remotely from home on planning and design work so any delay is minimised and we are ready to progress as soon as restrictions are lifted.

More information

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

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