My Account
Auckland Transport (AT) has confirmed that the 1.35km Matakana link road won’t open until next year.
AT says neither the road nor the intersection at State Highway 1 are likely to be finished before the end of this year. Additionally, opening the road before the new motorway opens could lead to new congestion and traffic problems on SH1, north of Hudson Road, which is still under construction.
The road is being built by Wharehine Construction, contracted to Auckland Transport, while the intersection is being built by NX2, on behalf of Waka Kotahi (NZ Transport Agency).
AT chief executive Shane Ellison says the point where the four-lane Matakana link road and SH1 join is a complicated piece of infrastructure and engineering.
He says that even if the intersection is finished before the new motorway opens, opening the link road would introduce a significant amount of new traffic and congestion at peak times to SH1, north of Hudson Rd, which would still be under construction.
The link road is funded with $30.5 million from AT and $31.7 million from Waka Kotahi. It involves constructing a four-lane bridge, three wetlands, walking and off-road cycling facilities, and urban design and landscaping elements. The project also requires a coordinated approach with utility companies and adjacent development contractors.
Ellison says construction is progressing at pace and the roundabout on the eastern end of works at Matakana Road will be opened for through traffic later in the year, while works continue on the remainder of the site.
Road pavement layers continue to be laid, cycleways and footpaths constructed, and services and barriers installed.
“Together we look forward to opening an impressive array of new transport infrastructure that’s fit for purpose now, and for the future,” Ellison says.
