Still no start date for next motorway project

A start on a four lane motorway from Warkworth to the Mangawhai turnoff, just north of Te Hana, is still at least a decade away, according to Waka Kotahi regional manager (Auckland/Northland) system design Randhir Karma. The new 26km transport corridor will be completely separate from the existing state highway, and will travel west of the Dome Valley before crossing eastwards over SH1, near Wayby Valley Road, bypassing both Wellsford and Te Hana townships.

Karma says that while there are funds available for early property purchases, Waka Kotahi has not yet allocated any construction funding for the project.

“As a start on the project is still at least a decade away, no decision has been made on the contract model for the project either,” Karma says.

Auckland Council granted resource consents for earthworks, vegetation removal, structures and associated temporary works around watercourses and wetlands, diversion of streams and ground water, discharge to air, and stormwater management including the on-going stormwater discharge from the road surface, subject to conditions, in March 2021.