Long-awaited Cames Road upgrade completed

A long-awaited upgrade to a challenging section of Cames Road in Mangawhai has been completed, replacing a narrow, single-lane hill with a wider concrete road designed to improve safety, access and resilience for the growing community.

The project involved replacing the historic three metre wide, single-lane steep hill section with a new six metre concrete road across a 400 metre stretch.

Council included this project in the Long Term Plan 2024–2027 to solve long-standing concerns from residents about traffic, safety and access on the hill.

Kaipara District Council Mayor Jonathan Larsen said the upgrade is a credit to the contractor involved for delivering a cost-effective permanent solution for the community.

“We’ve replaced a difficult, under‑performing section of road with something that’s safer, more reliable, and fit for the way this area has been growing and continues to grow,” he said.

The new surface is designed to handle higher traffic volumes and provide a durable, dust-free road.

Mayor Larsen said the upgrade also improves resilience and day-to-day access for locals.

“This stretch of road has been a challenge for a long time. It’s great to have a solution in place that supports the people who use it every day.”

The project was delivered by local contractor Shane Cullen Contracting, working alongside Kaipara District Council’s roading team.