SH1 Papakura to Bombay

As part of this project, a walking and cycling path will be built next to the Southern Motorway, alongside the northbound lane. 

It will link to the pathway being constructed as part of the Southern Corridor Improvement project and provide a new and alternative transport choice in this growing area.

As well as connections at interchanges, there will be connections to local roads along the route and to local cycling paths. This will help extend the Auckland cycle network.

The walking and cycling path will improve access to schools, work, local community destinations and the wider transport system.

This will help deliver safer and healthier streets for Aucklanders, supporting the development of more liveable communities.

The growth of housing in large parts of South Auckland means there is an increasing need to provide safe and affordable access to schools and employment areas, and transport alternatives to the use of private motor vehicles.

Protecting and enhancing the local environment is a prime consideration in our project planning.

This includes areas of environmental and heritage significance, areas and places that are important to the community, and areas that will become more urbanised in the future.

The natural environment within the wider project area is diverse; comprising streams, wetlands, estuaries, and native bush.

Human influence is reflected within an extensive agricultural landscape and historic, pā and midden sites.

As part of this project we are looking at opportunities to protect and enhance the local environment.

We are proposing planted drainage channels (swales) alongside the motorway to manage stormwater runoff, helping to keep local waterways clean.

The swales are proposed along the southbound side of SH1 including north of Papakura interchange, between the Papakura interchange and Park Estate Road bridge and along the front of the BP service station.

The project will ensure 100% of stormwater from the highway is treated to improve local water quality.

Flooding to the east of SH1 along Chichester Drive has been identified through consultation with Auckland Council.

This flooding will be alleviated by replacing culvert pipes crossing under the motorway with larger sized ones, allowing more water to flow through.

A noise assessment has been undertaken for the Papakura to Drury South project by an independent acoustic consultant in accordance with the relevant NZ standard and Waka Kotahi guidelines.

This assessment sets out the recommended noise mitigation to address road traffic noise effects of the project.

Based on these recommendations, Waka Kotahi is planning noise walls on the eastern side of the motorway between Papakura interchange and Park Estate Road bridge. The noise walls are likely to be installed in the early stages of the project starting in 2021. We will be talking to properties along the corridor about the plan for noise walls.

Eight bridges are being altered to respond to effects of climate change and flooding, to allow for future electrification of the rail line to Pukekohe and for over-dimension vehicles.

The Park Estate Road and Bremner Road bridges over the highway are being replaced and raised to provide for additional lanes underneath, improved vehicle clearance and walking and cycling paths.

The new Park Estate Road bridge will also provide for new water supply infrastructure and for future improvements.

The design of the new Park Estate Road bridge has been developed in collaboration with Mana Whenua to represent the historical significance of the area for food production and trade with a kono (food basket) weaving pattern.

The Otūwairoa (Slippery Creek) motorway bridges are being replaced and raised to provide for additional motorway lanes, to respond to effects of climate change and improve flood resilience.

The Ngakoroa stream bridge on Bremner Road is also being replaced and raised to respond to effects of climate change.

Drury interchange will effectively be rebuilt and three bridges across the rail line will be replaced and raised to allow for the electrification of the Papakura to Pukekohe rail line and additional rail line/s underneath.

The motorway bridge over Great South Road will be replaced and raised to provide for over-dimension vehicles.

• Supports investment in road and rail in South Auckland including the electrification of rail to Pukekohe and future proofing for additional lines.
• Reinforces the Southern Motorway’s function to support national and regional economic growth.
• Supports growth and liveability of communities by increasing access to employment, markets, services and amenities.
• Provides an additional traffic lane in each direction, interchange improvements and opportunities for dedicated public transport services.
• Promotes walking and cycling in South Auckland and enables people already using active modes to access new areas.
• Extends the Auckland walking and cycling network, maximising the investment in the section of the path being built as part of the SCI project.
• Contributes to the safety and resilience of Auckland’s transport system.
• Responds to the effects of climate change by raising bridges across the Southern Motorway to meet 100-year flood predictions.

• February to April 2016 – Public engagement on the project as part of the Supporting Growth Programme.
• Late 2016 – Preferred Supporting Growth transport network maps released to public.
• April to August 2017 – Project planning and options development for the SH1 Papakura to Bombay project.
• August to September 2017 – ‘Have your say’ consultation period for the SH1 Papakura to Bombay project.
• Late 2017 to mid-2018 – Papakura to Bombay project Business case is developed and approved by the Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Board.
• September 2018 – The preferred option is shared with the community as part of the overall Supporting Growth Programme’s south area public consultation period. See the Supporting Growth website(external link) for more information.
• Mid 2019 – Indicative Transport Network for the South published by Supporting Growth. See the Supporting growth website for more information.(external link)
• June 2019  – Design and consenting phase of project begins.
• December 2019 – Resource Consent lodged for Stage 1A works within existing designation.
• January 2020 – Government announces New Zealand Upgrade Programme including SH1 Papakura to Drury South project.
• June 2020 – Resource Consent granted for Stage 1A works.
• July 2020 – Process begins to appoint a construction contractor for Stage 1A works.
• Late 2020 – Community engagement events
• Early 2021 – Stage 1A construction begins. Consents and Notices of Requirement lodged for Stage 1B.
• 2021 onwards – Consents and Notices of Requirement progressively lodged for Stages 2 and 3.

Waka Kotahi is committed to working in partnership with Mana Whenua to deliver the project following the principles of Te Ara Kotahi, Waka Kotahi’s strategy for partnering with Maori including recognising and providing for cultural heritage, identity and Mātauranga Māori.

Building on collaboration with mana whenua about the project to date, Waka Kotahi will continue to partner with Mana Whenua as the project progresses.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is dedicated to working closely with partners, stakeholders and community throughout the design and construction of the Papakura to Drury South project.

Coordination with Auckland Council and Auckland Transport as well as interest and community groups will ensure that the Papakura to Drury South recognises cultural history and utilises local knowledge to help the project team understand the areas we are working in and how best to design for safety and accessibility.

Waka Kotahi has met with potentially affected property owners to understand how they use their land and how the project design could be refined to reduce the impact on their properties. We will continue to engage with property owners as the project progresses.