Motorway widening drives forward Work is advancing on widening of the Southern Motorway from Papakura to Drury and when completed will ease traffic congestion.
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otorway widening between Papakura and Drury is a significant milestone for the NZ Upgrade Programme (NZUP) which is investing $6.8 billion in road, public transport, walking and cycling infrastructure. This section of work, begun early 2021, is the first stage of the SH1 Papakura to Drury South project which delivers a range of transport choices by providing a third lane in each direction, an adjacent path for walking and people on bikes, wide shoulders for future bus services and improved local road connections across the motorway. The project is a key part of Waka Kotahi (NZ Transport Agency) developing a more resilient transport system aimed at improving travel choices and to facilitate growth and economic prosperity in south Auckland, where 120,000 people are expected to make their home in the next 30 years. It will also treat one hundred percent of all storm water runoff from the motorway, and the additional lanes being provided are being investigated for potential use for T3 and/or freight. 28 — Design and Build Franklin — 2021-2022
The first stage of construction, awarded to Fulton Hogan, has been covering works within the existing motorway boundaries from Papakura interchange to the BP motorway service centre north of Otuwairoa (Slippery) Creek. It will extend capacity and also includes the replacement of the Park Estate Road overbridge, and a new noise wall on the eastern side of SH1 between Papakura interchange and the overbridge. The noise wall coming along this southbound side of the motorway (between Beach Road and Park Estate Road) is being constructed using steel columns and concrete panels to match the existing Papakura and Takanini style noise walls (see below) north of the Papakura interchange. The Puna colour scheme, taken from the Toi Maori palette by Aalto Colour, will be used for the new noise wall. As work progresses several motorway bridges will be replaced, being raised or widened to allow for extra lanes underneath, provide for the electrification of the Papakura to Pukekohe rail line, and allow for oversize
vehicles as well as response to flooding risks. By end of August 2021 construction of a haul road was well underway alongside the southbound lanes with trees and other vegetation removed. The haul road was being built from both the Papakura Interchange, Beach Road end (pictured) and the Park Estate Road bridge end of the 1.5 km site. By September 2021 night crews had made good progress northwards along the central median of the motorway, stripping grass and top soil, digging down and then building up the subgrade to maximise road strength. When stage one has been completed works to follow will include: • A walking and cycling pathway along the western side of the motorway • Interchange improvements at Papakura (a new southbound on-ramp) and Drury (to allow for railway electrification and additional rail lines) • The replacement of the Bremner Road (Jesmond) overbridge and the Ngakoroa Stream bridge.
