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SH1 Northern Busway

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Project introduction

The Northern Busway is a rapid transit corridor that runs along State Highway 1 from the Auckland Harbour Bridge to Albany. It forms the backbone of public transport services on the North Shore and is a critical component of the wider Auckland Rapid Transit Network.

  • Estimated project dates

    Jan 2003–Nov 2008

  • Estimated project cost

    $100 million +

  • Project type

    Road improvements

  • Project status

    Completed

Project updates

Commuters celebrate traffic-free travel as Northern Busway extension opens
Media release,
SH1 Northern Busway Map overview
Project updates, (PDF)

Purpose

The Northern Busway includes a dedicated dual busway and bus lanes, and provides North Shore commuters with fast, reliable, frequent, and high-capacity bus services, free from congestion to Auckland’s city centre.

 

Benefits

  • Faster and more reliable bus trip times.
  • More frequent bus services.
  • New bus services and routes.
  • Improved facilities for cyclists and pedestrians at busway stations.
  • State of the art technology provides 24-hour security for passengers.
  • Better clearance for overheight loads at Onewa Road Interchange.
  • Quicker bus access to the motorway southbound at the Onewa Road Interchange.
  • New curving ramps at Onewa Road are safer for motorists.

About the project

  • Dedicated two-way roadway for buses running alongside SH1 between Constellation Drive and Esmonde Road.
  • Single lane busway running southbound from Esmonde Road to just before the Harbour Bridge.
  • Five bus stations at Albany, Constellation, Sunnynook, Smales Farm and Akoranga (AUT). Albany and Constellation stations have park and ride facilities.
  • State of the art technology provides real time passenger information, audio help points and 24-hour security surveillance.
  • Special passenger facilities include cycle lockers, covered walkways, new footpaths, bridges and lifts as well as drop off zones for motorists. There are pick up and drop off facilities at some stations to encourage motorists to leave their cars at home and catch local feeder buses, walk or cycle to the stations.
  • New ramps at the Onewa Road Interchange cross over the motorway at a height of 6 metres, providing better clearance for overheight loads.
  • Dedicated bus lane from Onewa Road onto the Northern Motorway towards Auckland CBD.

The Northern Busway is New Zealand’s first busway and took more than a million man-hours to build.

Northern Busway map

View larger/downloadable map [PDF, 865 KB]

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