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Penlink’s long-awaited opening has been pushed back yet again, with the project now not expected to be completed until late 2029, extending delays on a key transport link for Auckland’s growing northern communities.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi regional manager infrastructure delivery, Stephen Collett, said the late-2029 opening date is around 12 months later than expected.
“While good progress continues to be made on the road sections of the new highway, the bridge crossing the Wēiti River is taking longer to complete than anticipated.”
Collett said the Wēiti River Bridge is the largest and most complex structure on the project and is critical to connecting the new highway to the Whangaparāoa Peninsula.
He said its construction has proven more time consuming than expected due to the complexity of the construction, difficult ground conditions, and constrained site access.
“The project is being delivered in an area with complex geology, including a history of slips and land movement. While this is not uncommon for major roading projects in New Zealand, it has added to the challenges of constructing the largest of the project’s six bridges.
“The highway has been designed and is being constructed with these conditions in mind, so that it provides a safe and resilient route for the future.”
A significant slip last year delayed construction of the Stillwater and Ara Wēiti section of the road, however the transport agency said it would fully open in 2028.
The delays are expected to push the original $830 million price tag higher, with NZTA yet to confirm the full cost impact.
Once complete, Penlink will provide a key transport connection for North Auckland’s growing communities, offering an alternative route to the Whangaparāoa Peninsula, cutting peak travel times by up to 26 minutes, and easing congestion at the SH1 Silverdale interchange.
Penlink will be tolled once the highway is fully completed and open.
