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Auckland Transport (AT) and contractor Wharehine have confirmed that the Matakana link road may be finished ahead of the intersection, where it meets SH1.
The road can’t be opened until the intersection, which is being built by the NX2 consortium, is finished. NZTA was asked for a progress report on the intersection, but declined to comment.
However, AT says it is expecting the intersection to be finished before the motorway opens.
The $27 million, 1.3km link road is on track to be finished later this year, a few months behind schedule.
An AT spokesperson says last year’s Alert Level 4 lockdown and associated disruptions have led to project delays.
“Unfortunately, this has been the case for dozens of other projects across Auckland and New Zealand. AT has been clear that the link road project, and any extra works, need to be completed before the motorway opens.”
This includes the two intersections along the road, which were not in the original design – one for the Goatley Holdings/Stellan Trust industrial development and the other for Templeton. The Goatley project involves a 90-lot commercial and light industrial development on 65 hectares, while the second intersection will service a 700-lot residential development.
Work on these two intersections is still underway, with one currently in progress and the other awaiting design approval.
“These intersections have led to some additional work for the project team, but haven’t led to any substantial changes in the cost of this project to ratepayers.”
Wharehine foreman Jared McGee says the main challenges have been the Covid-19 lockdowns – for the company, its staff and subcontractors.
“The associated delays in shipping has also meant some suppliers have been unable to give delivery dates,” McGee says.
“Geological conditions have also been a challenge, with the extent of some geological forms having an effect on piling. We’ve also faced the standard challenges of dealing with the weather, with delays pushing summer works into winter, causing additional delays.”
Wharehine has about 25 staff on the project at present and about the same number of subcontractors. This staff level is expected to remain about the same through to completion.
Worked started on the road in July 2020.
McGee says it has been a great job for Wharehine and its staff.
“We’re locals and are putting our all into this – we have to, we’re held to account by our friends and families, and every time we go to school pick up or stop in town for a coffee!
“I, personally, will be pointing to this road and bridge for years to come, saying ‘we built this’. I’m proud of my staff and this project.”
McGee says the company has various projects underway and others in the pipeline – the next off the rank is on the other side of SH1 where work is due to start for Macrennie Construction.
