Projects | SH1 Papakura to Bombay, Auckland, New Zealand

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Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, is growing fast. Already home to 1.7 million people, Auckland’s population is expected to rise by over 40 per cent to 2.4 million over the next 30 years.

A significant portion of that growth will be concentrated in South Auckland. Around 5,000 hectares of land has been identified for urban development in Pukekohe, Drury, Paerata and Takanini, which could provide up to 40,000 new homes, as well as new jobs, over the next 30 years.

To ensure these growing communities are well-connected to employment, education and leisure opportunities, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is undertaking a range of transport projects to increase capacity on the southern motorway network and provide or support alternative transport options such as walking, cycling, buses and rail.

Future proofing transport options from Papakura to Bombay

One such project is the State Highway 1 (SH1) Papakura to Bombay project. Spanning 16km of  Auckland’s Southern Motorway, the project will provide an additional traffic lane in each direction, a dedicated walking and cycling shared use path, improved local road connections across the motorway and wide shoulders to future-proof for bus services.

Interchange improvements at Drury will enable the electrification of rail lines and for additional rail lines in the future. Safety will be improved through an upgraded motorway alignment, ramp signalling, and incident and congestion detection capability.

The project will be delivered in stages over the coming years. Stage 1, from Papakura to Drury, is currently being delivered as a Road of Regional Significance. Construction began in April 2021 and completion is expected by late 2030. Construction of Stage 2 between Drury and Bombay is likely in the longer term. Once complete, the project will enable 20 per cent more people and freight to travel through the area at peak times.

Location

Tāmaki Makarau
Auckland, New Zealand

Client

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi

Aurecon's Role

Detailed design, roads and transport construction

Expertise

Roads & Transport Networks, Infrastructure Advisory, Integrated Transport & Mobility, Integrated Advisory Solutions

Status

Ongoing

Delivering at pace

NZTA engaged Aurecon to develop the detailed design, secure the statutory approvals and procure the main contractor for Stage 1 of the Papakura to Bombay project, known as the Papakura to Drury project.

Aurecon worked at an accelerated pace to develop the design and get the project ready to procure a main contractor for Stage 1. Aurecon was also tasked with developing a preliminary design for Stage 2 from Drury to Bombay, where NZTA is undertaking route protection to ensure that land is available for future transport improvements when needed.

Papakura to Drury interchange improvements provide additional walking pedestrian and cycle crossings that will provided at the intersections in SH1 Papakura.

Stage 1: Papakura to Drury (P2D) – Enhancing connectivity, unlocking growth

As part of the Papakura to Bombay (P2B) corridor upgrades, the Papakura to Drury (P2D) stage plays a critical role in future-proofing Auckland’s Southern Motorway (SH1). The project introduces additional traffic lanes, a dedicated shared walking and cycling path, enhanced local road connections, and wide shoulders to accommodate future bus services.

Aurecon spearheaded the detailed design, statutory approvals, and contractor procurement for P2D. A key milestone was identifying an opportunity to accelerate northbound works between Papakura and Otuwairoa Bridge, previously considered unfeasible. This innovative re-sequencing delivered earlier benefits to road users, improved construction efficiency, and minimised community disruptions.

In addition, to reduce costs and environmental impact, Aurecon’s structural team optimised pile design, using floating piles with driven plugs, cutting pile lengths by half. Seismic testing ensured liquefaction risk was mitigated, reducing ground improvement requirements. The team also standardised bridge designs to optimise procurement and accelerate construction.

A pivotal decision was advancing the construction of North Island Main Trunk rail bridges before electrification, reducing safety risks and simplifying KiwiRail’s upgrade program.

P2D was one of the first roading projects in New Zealand to use fast-track consenting for the Stage 1B section, demonstrating Aurecon’s ability to navigate regulatory complexity efficiently.

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Working with Mana Whenua

Mana Whenua are recognised as Treaty of Waitangi partners on the Papakura to Bombay project. This partnership is actioned through NZTA’s Southern Iwi Integration Group, where NZTA and Aurecon have meet monthly with Mana Whenua representatives, supported by additional workshops and meetings as required.

The group provides a collaborative forum for information sharing and to consider how matters such as natural heritage, cultural heritage, and social impacts (including design integration) can be accounted for in project development and delivery.