State Highway 1 Papakura to Drury upgrade reaches new milestone

Southbound traffic on State Highway 1 has transitioned to a new motorway alignment and bridge between Papakura and Drury, marking a significant milestone in the SH1 Papakura to Drury upgrade project.

Transport Minister Chris Bishop stated that the Southern Motorway is a vital connection for Auckland and the upper North Island, handling approximately 80,000 vehicles daily. The project aims to enhance safety, resilience, and journey reliability while supporting growth in South Auckland and improving freight connections.

The new alignment features the first of five bridges scheduled for delivery during the project’s second and final construction stage. These new structures will be up to 2.5 metres higher than the existing bridges to improve flood resilience and address climate change and sea-level rise.

Following this transition, work will begin on dismantling the old bridge in sections starting in October. This will facilitate the construction of a second southbound bridge. Additional work is progressing along the corridor, including piling for a new bridge over Great South Road at the Drury Interchange and upcoming beam lifting for a bridge over Ngākōroa Stream.