New Zealand begins $3.65 billion Warkworth to Te Hana motorway construction

Construction has officially commenced on the $3.65 billion Warkworth to Te Hana motorway, a major infrastructure project designed to improve freight links and connectivity between Auckland and Northland. Transport Minister Chris Bishop participated in the sod-turning ceremony alongside project partners and mana whenua.

The motorway is expected to bypass the existing State Highway 1 route through Dome Valley, Wellsford, and Te Hana. Key features of the project include 15 bridges, two underpasses, 12 wetland stormwater-treatment basins, and twin tunnels through Kraack Hill. Once completed, the route is forecast to reduce journey times by seven to ten minutes and remove approximately 1,000 heavy vehicles per day from the current highway.

The project is being delivered through a public-private partnership with the Northway consortium, which includes Acciona Concesiones, Aberdeen Investments, and Global Sustainable Infrastructure GP IV. The motorway is scheduled to open in 2033 and is projected to prevent 145 deaths and serious injuries over its operating life.