Work begins on Warkworth to Te Hana motorway
New Zealand begins construction on the Warkworth to Te Hana motorway, a key transport link enhancing safety, efficiency, and economic growth between Auckland and Northland.
The Warkworth to Te Hana motorway, designated a Road of National Significance, marks the first major construction phase of the Northland Expressway. Transport Minister Chris Bishop highlighted its role in improving freight efficiency and reducing travel times for daily commuters. The project aims to prevent 145 deaths and serious injuries over its lifetime while diverting around 1,000 heavy vehicles daily from the existing State Highway 1 route.
The motorway will connect to the recently completed Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway via a free-flow interchange at Woodcocks Road, offering an alternative to the Dome Valley section of SH1. The new route will run west of Warkworth, east of Wellsford and Te Hana, and rejoin SH1 near Waimanu Road. Key features include 15 bridges, two underpasses, twin tunnels through Kraack Hill, and extensive stormwater treatment infrastructure.
The project, valued at $3.65 billion in Net Present Value terms, will be delivered through a Public Private Partnership led by the Northway consortium with Downer New Zealand and AECOM. It has a Benefit Cost Ratio of 1.6, indicating expected economic benefits exceed costs. The motorway is scheduled to open in 2033, with construction phases beginning with detailed design and site preparation.
Local economic benefits include 400 site-based roles during construction, expanding to 1,000 at peak, and 60 per cent of expenditure flowing through local supply chains. The Northway consortium has committed to workforce development initiatives, including internships, apprenticeships, and pathways for Māori and Pasifika communities.