Auckland Motorways - Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency
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Auckland Motorways
New Zealand Transport Agency
ISBN 978-0-478-10554-4
Auckland Office
Qantas House
191 Queen Street
PO Box 1459, Shortland Street
Auckland 1140
New Zealand
T 64 9 368 2000
F 64 9 368 2059
www.nzta.govt.nz
Printed on environmentally sustainable paper. Please recycle.
2 NZ Transport Agency Auckland Motorways
CONTENTS
PAGE NUMBER
Introduction.............................................................................................................................. 5
CHAPTER ONE
SH1 Northern Motorway...................................................................................................... 6
ALPURT and the Northern Gateway Toll Road.............................................................. 7
Auckland Harbour Bridge..................................................................................................... 9
SH1 Southern Motorway.....................................................................................................12
SH1 Central Motorway Junction...................................................................................... 14
SH16 Northwestern Motorway.........................................................................................18
SH18 Upper Harbour Motorway..................................................................................... 20
SH20 Southwestern Motorway.......................................................................................22
CHAPTER TWO
Keeping on moving..............................................................................................................28
CHAPTER THREE
Improving safety...................................................................................................................32
CHAPTER FOUR
Caring for the environment...............................................................................................34
CHAPTER FIVE
More than motorways – public transport, cycling & walking..................................36
CHAPTER SIX
The future of Auckland’s motorways..............................................................................38
CHAPTER SEVEN
Keeping Auckland connected...........................................................................................39
APPENDIX ONE.................................................................................................................. 40
APPENDIX TWO.................................................................................................................45
Auckland Motorways NZ Transport Agency 3
Auckland Motorway and State Highway Network, 2008
N
RODNEY 1
DISTRICT
16
NORTH SHORE
17 CITY
1
NO
RT
ERH
16 18
NB
US
WA
Y
WAITAKERE
CITY
AUCKLAND
16 CITY
20
20A
20B MANUKAU
CITY
1
KEY
= Existing State Highway
= Existing Motorway
= Expressway
PAPAKURA
22 DISTRICT
= Proposed construction
= Under construction
FRANKLIN
2
DISTRICT
4 NZ Transport Agency Auckland Motorways
Introduction Wayne McDonald, New Zealand Transport
Agency, Auckland Regional Director
The last edition of this book was We have managed the congestion variable message signs, lane signal
published by the Ministry of Works resulting from this phenomenal growth controls, ramp signalling and web
in 1984. At that time the Southern by completing a number of major based information systems to manage
Motorway ended north of the Bombay motorway projects. These include crucial congestion.
Hills and a new expressway had just motorway to motorway connections
That Transit has been successful
opened at the end of the Northern in the Central Motorway Junction
is demonstrated by the fact that
Motorway; the Northwestern and motorways giving access to the
Auckland is now more than ever
Motorway connected to the city at central business district and the Port.
connected to its diverse communities.
Nelson and Hobson Streets and the The motorways have been extended to
The region’s four major motorways
new Mangere Bridge had just opened the north and south while significant
– Northern, Northwestern, Southern
on the Southwestern Motorway. investment has been made to improve
and Southwestern – are the transport
access to Auckland International Airport.
This book records the successful spines that make it possible for its
Important advances have also been
transport solutions applied, mainly by citizens to work and play with ease
made on the strategic Western Ring
Transit New Zealand, over the past and safety.
Route, on target for completion in 2015.
25 years. This was a period that saw
Auckland’s motorways and state
tremendous changes to the Auckland However, long-term solutions to
highways total nearly 327 kilometres
region’s transport environment, Auckland’s transport issues lie not just
in length, just a fraction of a national
enabling it to foster huge social and with roading improvements but also
network 10,300 kilometres long.
economic growth. through greater provision of public
However, it is this small segment of
transport. We are working with the
With the establishment of Transit New roads that carries nearly a quarter of
region’s authorities to make this happen
Zealand in 1989, our challenge was, all the country’s state highway traffic.
and recently completed the Northern
and remains as we go forward as the
Busway that runs alongside the Northern This achievement has no small part
New Zealand Transport Agency, to
Motorway. We are also building bus been due to the many talented and
provide successful transport solutions
priority measures into all our major dedicated people who have been part
for the growing Auckland region.
roading projects. of the Transit organisation over its
Today, a third of New Zealand’s 19 years of existence. I wish you luck
Because we cannot simply continue
population is located here and is on your exciting journey with the NZ
building our way out of our traffic
being added to at the rate of a city the Transport Agency.
challenges, we have introduced
size of Christchurch every 10 years.
Advanced Travel Management Systems
Auckland’s roads - motorways, state
(ATMS) to better manage traffic. This
highways and local arterials - which
is being done through the use of smart
are already operating close to capacity,
technology involving CCTV cameras, Wayne McDonald,
have to cope with more and more Auckland Regional Director
vehicles every day.
Auckland Motorways NZ Transport Agency 5
CHAPTER ONE
Northern Motorway
Origins Upgrading and widening Looking ahead
D evelopment of the Northern
Motorway (SH1) began with the
opening of the Auckland Harbour Bridge
In 1994, Transit upgraded the two-lane
expressway to a four-lane motorway to
Greville Road and constructed a new
Motorists can expect further safety
and access improvements with the
completion of the upgrade to the Onewa
in 1959 and has undergone substantial interchange at Constellation Drive with Road Interchange in November 2008.
change since the 1980s. In 1975, the on and off-ramps in both directions. To The existing two-way bridge over the
motorway extended from Wellington the west, the interchange connected to a motorway has been replaced by two
Street in the CBD to Tristram Avenue, new North Shore City Council road that separate one-way bridges. One provides
a distance of 9.6 kilometres. Within 25 improved access to the existing Upper a general traffic lane for the southbound
years it had extended to Orewa and its Harbour Highway. This route, linking to on-ramp; the other provides a traffic
length had trebled to 31 km. Waitakere City, had been designated lane and a bus lane for the southbound
state highway in 1991. on-ramp. These more gradually curved
In 1983, the four-lane Northern
Motorway ended at Sunset Road, and a bridges improve safety. Separate lanes
The new interchange was also a much
two-lane expressway continued through for north and southbound traffic heading
safer end point for the motorway at
to Albany Village, re-joining the existing onto SH1 from Onewa Road have been
that time. The previous traffic signals
highway that traversed the Albany creasted by widening Onepoto Bridge.
at Sunset Road were at the top of a hill,
Hill to Silverdale. Direct access to the giving motorists limited visibility. Further The upgrade is part of Stage 2 of the
East Coast Bays was formed with the improvements came in 1999 when the Northern Busway (see Chapter 5).
construction of Greville Road. motorway was widened to add bus
An additional northbound lane between
shoulder lanes between Upper Harbour
Northcote Interchange and Sunnynook
Highway and Greville Road.
Underpass was completed towards the
end of 2008 to reduce congestion and
improve safety.
Above: Northern Motorway and Akoranga
footbridge
Left: Travelling southbound on the Northern
Motorway approaching Onewa Road off-ramp
Far left: Looking north at Oteha Valley Road
off-ramp
6 NZ Transport Agency Auckland Motorways
ALPURT and the Northern Gateway Toll Road
I ncreasing urbanisation and the
rapidly expanding industrial area
of Albany necessitated an extension
Applications for designations under
the new Resource Management Act
were submitted in early 1994 and
At the same time, a 4 kilometre, two-
lane expressway called ALPURT B1
opened between Silverdale and Orewa
of the Northern Motorway further confirmed by the Environment Court in and a new road, Grand Drive, gave a
north. A designation existed on the early 1997. The expanded 27 kilometre, bypass of the commercial centre of
District Plans of both Takapuna City four-lane motorway was called the Orewa. The opening was planned to
and Rodney District for a route from Albany to Puhoi Realignment, or celebrate the millennium and provide
Albany to Silverdale, then swinging ALPURT for short. improved access for the America’s Cup
eastwards to behind Orewa Township in early 2000. It remains the longest
The new motorway improved transport
and finishing at Hatfields Beach. single section of motorway ever
infrastructure and motorist safety by
opened by Transit in Auckland.
The location of the designation was taking traffic away from the original
challenged by various parties when the narrow, winding route, which was The last section under construction,
Rodney District Plan was reviewed in not designed to carry heavy traffic, ALPURT B2, is known as the Northern
the late 1980s. A public consultation particularly at Albany and Silverdale. It Gateway Toll Road and will complete
process showed a preference for also contributed towards the economic the project to Puhoi with a further
a route further west of Orewa and and social well being of the Northland, 7.5 kilometre section of motorway.
finishing north of Johnstone’s Hill, near Rodney and Auckland regions. It is one of the most challenging
Puhoi. roading projects ever undertaken in
Construction contracts for the first
New Zealand, due to the very steep
Following extensive studies, a new two projects were awarded throughout
topography.
route was developed for the northern 1997 and 1998 and on 20 December
portion which met public expectations 1999, the first section between Greville
for a new connection better linking Road in Albany and Silverdale in
Auckland and Northland. Rodney, ALPURT A, opened. The 13
kilometres of new motorway cut travel
times and was more than 7 kilometres
shorter than the existing route.
Above: Motorists heading off at
Greville Road Interchange on to
SH17 and local roads
Auckland Motorways NZ Transport Agency 7
ALPURT and the Northern Gateway Toll Road (continued)
Environmental sustainability Engineering excellence
The Northern Gateway
Transit faced a number of engineering The Johnstone’s Hill Twin Tunnels are
Alliance
challenges during construction, 15 metres apart, 380 metres long, 12
including difficult geological formations, metres wide and 9 metres high. They The Northern Gateway Alliance is made
steep terrain and the significant are built to carry two lanes each, plus a up of seven partner organisations who
environmental importance of the area. shoulder and an emergency pathway. are working together to complete the
Initially, only one lane will be marked project. Alliancing is a popular and
The emphasis on preserving the natural
northbound and the second lane will successful concept, often demonstrated
environment has been an integral part
come into operation when future overseas to deliver construction project
of the project from the beginning. In
works north of the project have been on time and to budget.
1992, Transit undertook an extensive
completed.
series of environmental impact studies
and technical reports along the planned
route as part of designation conditions.
The route passed through an area of
regenerating bush identified by the
Department of Conservation as a Project innovation
recommended area for protection. The Key features:
department wanted to ensure that the
motorway would not sever an important • Twin tunnels through Johnstone’s Hill
ecological corridor. The Nukumea
Viaduct was built to protect native • Waiwera Viaduct stands 30 metres tall and 520 metres long
aquatic fauna and natural wetlands.
• Eco-viaducts at Otanerua and Nukumea
The eco-corridor will strengthen
links between the established bush • A 55 metre deep cut at China Hill
west of the motorway to Alice Eaves
Bush and the important areas around
Wenderholm.
Above:
Waiwera Viaduct just before completion and
Johnstone’s Hill twin tunnels on the Northern
Gateway Toll Road.
8 NZ Transport Agency Auckland Motorways
Auckland Harbour Bridge
An Auckland icon Bridging the gap
And still the
T he Auckland Harbour Bridge is an
iconic New Zealand structure. For
nearly 50 years it has straddled the
By 1965 annual traffic had risen to
9.3 million and it became apparent
that the bridge would not cope with
numbers grew . . .
When the toll charges that had
Waitemata Harbour linking Auckland the rapidly growing North Shore helped finance the bridge were
to the North Shore and beyond. population. The decision was made to abolished on 31 March 1984,
extend the bridge from four to eight traffic had reached 31 million
The 1.2 kilometre long structure is
lanes to increase capacity and ease vehicles per year and there has
actually three bridges, the middle
congestion. Two new box girder ‘clip- been a steady increase in demand
section (with the steep arches and
ons’ were added to each side of the ever since. By 2007 the annual
flags) is the original four-lane ‘truss’
bridge. The new steel extensions were average daily traffic count reached
bridge. It took a team of 1000 men
‘clipped’ to the existing piers in 1969. 166,000, which converts to over
four years and a cost of £7,516,000 to
60 million trips per year. This
build. In 1985 inspections revealed cracking
can increase to nearly 200,000
on the clip-on decks. A two-year
The bridge was financed through vehicles per day at particularly
programme of night work ensued and
tolls with cars and taxis paying 2s/6d busy times.
involved banning heavy vehicles on the
(25c), motorcycles 1s/3d (13c),
clip-ons. Issues were also identified
buses 5s (50c) and 4s (40c) for
with the ongoing use of asphaltic
commercial vehicles. It was opened
concrete on the deck road surface.
with tremendous excitement and
During the next round of annual
anticipation on 30 May 1959. Within
resealing, Transit looked at alternative
one year, 4.9 million vehicles had
materials to improve the driving
already crossed the bridge.
experience for motorists.
Above:
Auckland Harbour Bridge looking south to
Westhaven
Auckland Motorways NZ Transport Agency 9
Choosing the seal Moving times Trucks on the bridge
BOLIDT, a Dutch firm had a product Safety and traffic flow was also improved In 2007, trucks over 13 tonnes were
referred to as Z.OK which was chosen in 1990, when a new moveable lane restricted to the centre six lanes of the
as it had strength but was still light barrier machine was installed to safely Auckland Harbour Bridge to minimise
enough not to add extra weight to the manage peak traffic by changing the lane traffic disruption from maintenance
deck. It was also skid resistant and configuration on the bridge. See more and keep the bridge in good repair.
porous. about this innovation in Chapter 2. The volume of traffic, particularly the
number and weight of trucks crossing
The open graded polyurethane In 1999 and 2000 an upgrade improved
the bridge has increased in past years
surfacing provided much better the seismic performance of the truss
and is expected to continue.
corrosion protection to the steel deck bridge and the clip-ons. The clip-ons
plates. were connected to the truss bridge
piers to stop the three main bridge
Looking ahead
Resurfacing using the new product
components hitting each other in the Another comprehensive strengthening
first took place over the Christmas
event of an earthquake. Strengthening programme for the clip-ons began
and New Year of 1995 and 1996.
was carried out on both the truss bridge in mid 2008. Preparations involve
It now continues annually, always
and the clip-ons and was praised by improving access, ventilation, lighting
during the holidays to minimise the
international reviewers. and power supply for the workers who,
inconvenience to motorists. The only
over two and a half years, will secure
break in work was during the 1999 and
760 tonnes of steel to the box girders.
2000 holidays when the America’s
Cup took place. Transit’s ongoing maintenance
to look after the bridge, including
strengthening projects such as this,
will ensure that the Auckland Harbour
Bridge continues to perform as one of
Above: Looking at the bridge from Westhaven
Auckland’s vital transport links long
into the future.
10 NZ Transport Agency Auckland MotorwaysBeyond the bridge crossing between the North Shore and In May 2008, a single preferred option
the western CBD, a crossing for vehicles was announced for consideration. The
In 2007, representatives from Transit New
and passenger transport between SH1 (at recommended option comprises four
Zealand, Auckland Regional Transport
Esmonde Road) on the North Shore to the tunnels – two for trains and two for
Authority, Auckland Regional Council,
western CBD, and a tunnel underneath the motorists – to the east of the existing
Auckland City Council and North Shore
harbour linking SH1 (at Esmonde Road) on Auckland Harbour Bridge.
City Council began a joint study to identify
the North Shore to the eastern CBD.
options for an additional link across the
Waitemata Harbour. The new study The shortlist was developed from an
expanded on findings of earlier studies original list of some 159 options, taken
completed in 1988, 1997, and 2003. from all major investigations that have
been carried out since 1997, plus other
Phase one of the study, released in
options identified by the study partners
November 2007, delivered a short list of
and suggestions made by members of the
options. These were; a passenger transport
public.
Above left to right:
Stairway leading engineers from bridge arch to lower deck
Construction of the bridge in 1958
Right: Modern day lane layout heading over the bridge
Auckland Motorways NZ Transport Agency 11Southern Motorway
Origins The new expressway removed an The first motorway service centre at
S
accident black spot called the ‘Collision Bombay opened in 1994 and another
ince opening in 1953 with a single 3.2
Crossroads’, where the highway ended service centre linked directly to the
kilometre section between Penrose
at traffic signals and also reduced travel motorway opened in Papakura in 1999.
and Mt Wellington, the Southern
times across the Bombay Hills.
Motorway (SH1) has grown to become
Previously travel times of more than two
the gateway to Auckland and the
hours were not uncommon during
Waikato. Over the next twelve years, the
holiday periods.
motorway was extended 23.4 kilometres
in stages from Mt Wellington to Drury. It To cope with rising numbers of
was also extended north toward the city. commuters, the motorway was widened Above: Aerial shot of Southern Motorway and
city links from the eighties
Newmarket Viaduct opened in from four to six lanes between 1989 and Below: Highbrook Drive off-ramp
September 1966 and the final 6.6 km to 1996 creating extra capacity between Opposite: Mt Wellington and SEART
Symonds Street was completed. the Mt Wellington and Hill Road
(Manurewa) Interchanges.
An extension in 1978 pushed the
motorway a further 8.8 km southward to
St Stephens on the northern side of the
Bombay Hills.
Enhancements throughout the nineties
met the demands of a thriving central
business district and the growth
explosion in newly created Manukau
City.
In 1993, the motorway was extended
from Great South Road at St Stephens to
Mill Road in Bombay. A new expressway
(the Waikato Expressway) gave
motorists a clear run from Bombay to
the link with State Highway 2 and
beyond to Hamilton.
12 NZ Transport Agency Auckland MotorwaysSupporting development Together with the Mt Wellington
Highway Interchange more than 90,000 Looking ahead
Today, the Southern Motorway
vehicles enter and exit the Southern The 23-metre high Newmarket
remains the main artery into Auckland
Motorway every day. Viaduct, a feat of engineering when
and further north, carrying more
Further south in 2004, Manukau City it was built in the 1960s, is going to
than 100,000 vehicles each day. An
Council started to build a business park be replaced to ease congestion
estimated eighty-five percent of all
at Highbrook in East Tamaki. Eventually, between the Central Motorway
freight related to activities at the Ports of
it is expected to employ up to 12,000 Junction (CMJ) and Green Lane East
Auckland is delivered to, or comes from,
people. Interchange. An additional
the south.
southbound lane will also be
The increasing numbers of heavy To support the new development, Transit constructed between Gillies Avenue
vehicles prompted the building of a new upgraded Princes Street Interchange and southbound off-ramp and Green
link to the motorway from the southern created a new interchange at Highbrook Lane East Interchange. The new
suburbs of Onehunga, Penrose and Mt Drive, opened in April 2007. An viaduct will also meet new seismic
Wellington. additional lane in both directions has standards for bridges across the
increased capacity and is helping to motorway network.
The Southeastern Highway connecting
reduce congestion.
the Pakuranga regional motorway to Growth in the south of the region
Church Street opened in 1998. Heavy Just south of the Central Business and the opening of a new connection
freight vehicles now enter the motorway District, is the 1960’s built Green Lane between the Southern Motorway
via the Southeastern Highway and East Interchange. Transit and Auckland and the Western Ring Route (SH20)
travel direct to the Ports of Auckland City Council worked together in at Manukau in 2010, is driving the
in Grafton. This was an alternative 2006/07 to upgrade the interchange. need to increase capacity and
route that reduced demand on the Mt Two new slip lanes give motorists a free improve interchanges south of Hill
Wellington Highway on-ramp. turn onto the on-ramp and improve Road. Studies on future
safety. The two lanes at the top of the requirements are underway.
on-ramp then merge further down to join
the motorway.
Auckland Motorways NZ Transport Agency 13Central Motorway Junction
Original plan All of these concepts are shown in the The Central Motorway improvements
T
1973 edition of the Auckland Motorways benefited all of Auckland. Besides giving
he original scheme for Spaghetti
Brochure. the region the infrastructure it needed
Junction, as the Central Motorway
Junction (CMJ) is commonly known, to move towards a more modern and
The Northwestern Motorway ended
included two separate interchanges sustainable future, completion of the
at Waterview for many years, and the
known as Grafton and Newton. Until project has made it easier for people,
extension to the CBD was not opened
1971, the Southern Motorway ended freight and public transport to move
until 1979. The connection between
at Wellesley Street, and the Northern around the city.
the Northern and Southern Motorways
Motorway was served by the Wellington was made in 1978, when the Southern
and Cook Street ramps. Motorway connections to the western
part of the CBD were made.
The concept was for the Northern
Motorway to connect to a new With the old plans abandoned, new
motorway parallel to Dominion Road, connections between the Northwestern
and then on to the Southwestern Motorway and the Southern Motorway
Motorway at Mt Roskill, the project and Grafton Gully were proposed and
currently under construction. This opened in 1988 and 1989.
was abandoned in the face of resident
By the 1990s, planning was well
opposition. The ramps and bridges that
underway for a suite of three projects
were already built are the connections
– collectively known as the Central
used today to Dominion Road and New
Motorway Improvements to improve
North Road from the city.
capacity and connectivity through the
There was an additional design for heart of Auckland’s motorway network.
an Eastern Motorway from Wellesley These were the Grafton Gully and CMJ
Street heading north past the Port, then Stage 1 (Grafton to Newmarket) and
east along Tamaki Drive, south through Stage 2 (Grafton to west and north)
Glen Innes and Mt Wellington before projects.
connecting to the Southern Motorway.
Top: Signage to new links in CMJ
Above: Winding links within Spaghetti Junction
Opposite above: Pohutukawa urban design panels
Opposite below: CMJ in the early eighties looking north
14 NZ Transport Agency Auckland MotorwaysStructural artworks
‘Ropeworks’ was created by local
artist Caroline Robinson. The
loose coil of fine metal strands
pinned together and suspended
under Wellesley Street Bridge is a
metaphor for the streams that used
to flow through the gully. Ropeworks
is located close to where the first
mechanised rope factory in New
Zealand was set up in 1842.
Grafton Gully
The groundbreaking Grafton Gully CBD connection to the motorways
project was constructed between and locations east of Grafton Gully.
December 2001 and February 2004. The New Southern Motorway (SH1) and
project improved access from the CMJ Northwestern Motorway (SH16) ramps
to the Port and across the city between were also built.
the CBD, Auckland Hospital and the
New traffic signals at the intersection of
Domain.
Alten Road and Stanley Street provide
A direct connection to Stanley Street better pedestrian access across the gully.
was established to replace the old Local and motorway traffic has also been
motorway end point at Grafton Road. separated so cyclists and pedestrians
The dogleg intersection from Stanley no longer have to compete with heavy
Street into the Strand was replaced vehicles traveling to and from the Port.
with a direct connection underneath Built as part of the project, the Grafton
the new railway bridge. A new link Road Bridge enables pedestrians to
from Wellesley Street to Grafton Road safely cross the gully on an extra wide
bridges the motorway, providing a new footpath as traffic exits the motorway
below. More than roads
The achievements of the Grafton
Gully Project in archeology,
environmental management, design,
traffic management, community
relations and project delivery, set
benchmarks used as a model for
other projects. The project won
a Public Archaeology Award and
the International Road Federation
Global Road Achievement Award for
Environmental Mitigation.
Auckland Motorways NZ Transport Agency 15Central Motorway Junction bridge carrying the Southern Motorway An eight metre long gecko sculpture with
Stage 1 over the Northern and Northwestern a colourful mosaic surface enhances
connections with Grafton Gully. Two a previously uninviting area under the
I n October 2002, stage 1 of the CMJ
project to add capacity to the Southern
Motorway in the CBD was started. It
large structural pylons were created
and are referred to as T Rex, after the
Khyber Pass Bridge. According to Maori
legend, the gecko provides guardianship
dinosaur, given their prehistoric shape, and protects passage, particularly
was delivered 26 months later on 8
which is reminiscent of a dinosaur’s appropriate in a roading context.
December 2004. This complex project
head.
was carried out around live traffic Stage 2
flowing through New Zealand’s busiest Safety barriers, better motorway lighting
Transit awarded the contract in October
section of motorway. and improved stormwater collection
2003 to seamlessly join Auckland’s
systems that prevent surface flooding
A new dedicated lane for motorists three major motorways and the Port
have all made the CMJ safer and more
joining the Southern Motorway at for the first time since the junction was
enjoyable to use.
Hobson Street continues as a fourth conceived some 40 years ago.
southbound lane to Gillies Avenue. Like Grafton Gully, CMJ stage 1
Stage 2 involved upgrading the existing
Traffic using on-ramps at Symonds incorporated urban design including
SH1 junction and SH16 and linking the
Street and Grafton Road join this new native landscaping, specially designed
Northern and Northwestern motorways,
lane when entering the motorway. Rangitoto motif safety barriers and
Grafton Gully and the Port.
original artwork including sculptures.
Another northbound lane was added
between Gillies Avenue and Khyber Pass
to improve flow and capacity.
A new lane after Khyber Pass carries
traffic to the Port, Wellesley Street and
Symonds Street.
Above: Structural ‘T Rex’ pylons
Bridges at Khyber Pass and Grafton Road Left: Grafton Gully at night
Opposite above and below:
were upgraded to tolerate increasing
CMJ links taking shape - August 2006
loads. One innovative feature was
Northern link to the North Shore
the ‘hanging’ of the extension to the
16 NZ Transport Agency Auckland MotorwaysConstruction of the multi-million CMJ stage 2 was one of the biggest
Looking ahead
dollar project started in January 2004, and most complex upgrade projects
comprising the four new links between to have ever taken place on Auckland In the heart of the central business
SH1 and SH16, two new off-ramps to motorways, constructed in a tight work district lies one of Transit’s most
Nelson Street from the Southern and site between residential houses and live ambitious projects to date – the
Northwestern Motorways, and new lane traffic. Victoria Park Tunnel. It will see three
layouts to make the motorway safer and lanes of northbound traffic travelling
Considerable urban design included two
more intuitive to use. in a 440 metre tunnel underneath
kilometres of decorative retaining walls
one of Auckland’s most popular green
One of these changes was to move the with motifs of karaka leaves and berries,
spaces, Victoria Park. Southbound
Nelson Street off-ramp heading into the kowhai and pohutakawa flowers and
traffic will travel on the existing four-
city so motorists exit the motorway on leaves. Environmental improvements
lane viaduct.
the left rather than the right. A major included new stormwater treatment
new bridge was constructed on the facilities, the introduction of 1300 cubic Extra capacity created by the Victoria
alignment of an original structure which metres of topsoil and the addition of Park Tunnel will relieve congestion for
was removed as part of the 1970’s 143,000 plants. traffic travelling through the CMJ to
redesign. the Auckland Harbour Bridge.
In February 2005, the project was
extended to include an extra westbound
lane on the Northwestern between
Newton Road and Western Springs to
add capacity and enable the new links to
function at peak performance.
After three years of construction,
the ribbon was cut on 15 December
2006 and the new links between the
Northwest and the North and the Port
and the North took motorists to their
destinations via elevated and sweeping
new sections of motorway.
Auckland Motorways NZ Transport Agency 17Northwestern Motorway
I n 1961, the Northwestern Motorway
(SH16) ran 11.5 kilometres from
Pt Chevalier to Hobsonville Road
Origins
Like the Central Motorway Junction
Interchange was also widened from four
to six lanes.
and Southern Motorway, capacity At about the same time, the end of the
to serve Auckland’s original airport
on the Northwestern Motorway has motorway at Hobsonville Road was
at Whenuapai. In 1966 Auckland
been improved over the past 20 converted into a new intersection with
International Airport was opened and
years to reflect the growing numbers traffic signals improving safety.
Whenuapai reverted to a military airport.
of commuters. Established in 1989,
This affected the use of SH16. By 1993, it was time for the motorway
Waitakere City, like Manukau, has
to be widened to six lanes between the
Ramps into the CBD to Nelson and grown rapidly and requires ongoing
Rosebank Peninsula and the Great North
Hobson Streets were completed improvements to transport links for its
Road Interchange.
between 1977 and 1979. Links to Grafton residents and businesses commuting
Gully and the Southern Motorway into the CBD and beyond. Transit improved access for Avondale
followed in 1988 and 1989. residents and the developing industrial
In 1991, the motorway was widened
area around Rosebank Road with a
These latter works significantly from four to six lanes between the Te
new split interchange in 1997. The
increased the functionality of the entire Atatu Road Interchange and Rosebank
Rosebank-Patiki Interchange included
Northwestern Motorway. It wasn’t until Road Interchange, including widening
two sweeping on and off-ramps crossing
2006 however, that the final piece of the of the Whau River Bridge. Shortly
the motorway. Two additional on and off-
jigsaw was in place with connections to after, in 1992, the motorway between
ramps completed the split interchange.
the Northern Motorway (see section on Newton Road and the Great North Road
the Central Motorway Junction).
18 NZ Transport Agency Auckland MotorwaysThe existing pedestrian overbridge and
Looking ahead
bus stop on the seaward side of the
motorway for citybound buses was Recent developments include in Massey North. The SH16 Brigham
removed and buses routed into the widening bus shoulders between Creek Extension will be constructed
Rosebank Road industrial area and back Te Atatu and Great North Road for at the same time as the SH18
on to the motorway. quicker bus journeys during peak Hobsonville Deviation and will be
times. completed in 2012.
The project was also one of the first
to be built to strict new environmental Widening the motorway to six lanes A broader strategic study of the
standards under the Resource is planned between Te Atatu Road Northwestern Motorway is underway
Management Act. and Royal Road Interchanges. From to identify further improvements that
Great North Road to Te Atatu is also can be made to safety, efficiency and
The new motorway ramps pass through
scheduled to be widened from six to integration with other public transport
the sensitive Motu Manawa (Pollen
eight lanes in the future. modes. This will include identifying
Island which was originally planned to
solutions to address the surface
be the second harbour for Auckland) A new three kilometre, two-lane
flooding that sometimes occurs
marine reserve. This, coupled with the section of motorway will extend
between Great North Road and the
mostly industrial activity in the area, led the Northwestern Motorway
Rosebank-Patiki Interchanges.
Transit to create a system to capture and from Hobsonville Road to a new
treat all stormwater from the road before roundabout at Brigham Creek Road
being discharged.
Completion of the motorway allowed
Transit to join two sections of cycleway
built across the harbour from Great
North Road and across to Te Atatu Road.
Above:
AboveSH16 Northwestern
and opposite, Motorway
left to right:
The cycleway included several wooden
Opposite above: Aerial
Northwestern Motorwayview of Rosebank-Patiki Interchange
boardwalks to minimise the impact on Opposite
Makingbelow: Making
the most of thethe most
cycle of alongside
lane the cycleway
the alongside
motorway
the marine reserve. SH16
Aerial view of Rosebank-Patiki Interchange
Auckland Motorways NZ Transport Agency 19Upper Harbour Motorway
Origins The motorway is being built in three The bridge was built using the ‘balanced
I
sections – Upper Harbour Bridge cantilever’ approach, whereby piers were
n 1984, State Highway 18 was the
duplication, Greenhithe Deviation and constructed using special formwork, the
Coatesville-Riverhead Road and
Hobsonville Deviation. With the first two spans were constructed sequentially on
formed part of the main Auckland to
sections already completed, construction either side to balance the loads on the
Whangarei highway. By July 1991 the
on the last section will start in late 2008. pier. Segments were cast in place and
state highway status had been
The entire Upper Harbour Motorway is then prestressed together in shorter
transferred to Hobsonville Road and
scheduled to be completed in 2012 at an lengths. When each pier/beam section
Upper Harbour Drive. Shortly after
estimated cost of approximately $400 reached the required length, the closing
between 1992 and 1994, work to
million. section was poured and the elements of
increase capacity and improve safety
the bridge were fully prestressed to form
complemented the linking of Upper Harbour Bridge
a continuous structure.
Constellation Drive and Albany Highway.
To create more capacity between
‘Mudcrete’ - a mixture of cement and
Since the opening of the original Upper Hobsonville and Greenhithe, a new
soft marine mud was used to complete
Harbour Bridge in 1975, a new motorway 458 metre cantilevered bridge was
harbour bed foundations. Mudcrete was
has been planned to provide a better link constructed alongside the original 1975
also used in widening the highway at the
over the Waitemata Harbour between bridge.
bridge’s western end, reducing the need
the growing North Shore and Waitakere
Construction began in February 2003 to import and dispose of any excess
cities and improve capacity.
and was completed by December 2006. materials.
Today, construction of the new Twenty eight piles were driven deep into
Together, the two bridges provide
motorway is well underway. It will extend the Waitemata Harbour seabed to hold
three lanes towards Greenhithe and
from the intersection of Upper Harbour the deck. Three kilometres of drainage
two towards Hobsonville. Cyclists
Drive and Paul Matthews Drive in the collects and filters all surface water and
and pedestrians share a separate 1.2
east, to the end of the Northwestern run-off from the bridge. Eight hundred
kilometre, three metre wide path across
Motorway in the west. When fully and sixty metres of the existing highway
the bridge, which connects on both sides
completed, it will help ease congestion was widened on the Hobsonville
to local roads.
and provide an alternative route to Upper approach to the bridge.
Harbour Drive and Hobsonville Road,
passing through the developing
Above: Newly completed Greenhithe Deviation
residential areas of Greenhithe and
Hobsonville.
20 NZ Transport Agency Auckland MotorwaysSH18 Greenhithe Deviation end of the Upper Harbour Bridge to
Looking ahead – SH18
symbolise the new connections between
In 2003, construction began on the 5.5 Hobsonville Deviation
the two cities.
kilometre Greenhithe Deviation, a four-
Hobsonville Deviation is the last
lane motorway between Upper Harbour Because the motorway was constructed
project of the Upper Harbour
Bridge and Albany Highway. through native bush, Transit carefully
Motorway to be built. It will connect
controlled erosion and sediment by
Three new bridges form part of the new Upper Harbour Motorway
limiting major earthworks to summer
interchanges at Albany Highway, Tauhinu (SH18) to the end of the
months. Native geckos and skinks were
Road and Greenhithe Road. Together, Northwestern Motorway (SH16).
re-homed. Extensive restoration to the
the deviation and the bridge add
surrounding bush included the planting Approximately 6 kilometres of four-
capacity along the SH18 route, lessening
of 260,000 natives on earth slopes lane motorway will be built from
congestion for the growing number of
alongside the motorway. Monterey Park immediately to the
vehicles travelling through the area daily.
west of the Upper Harbour Bridge, to
The new links also reduce peak travel Run-off from the motorway is filtered by
the Northwestern Motorway (SH16)
times in the expanding northwest region four permanent stormwater treatment
at Massey North. A new flyover will
including the Albany and Greenhithe ponds, which also provide a habitat for
connect SH16 and SH18 and allow
town centres in North Shore City and local wildlife.
SH16 to be extended 3 kilometres to
Hobsonville and Massey in Waitakere
Timber noise walls reduce the effects of Brigham Creek Road. New
City.
noise on surrounding neighbourhoods. interchanges will be constructed at
At the official opening in 2007, Prime Local flora and fauna were stenciled onto Buckley Avenue, Brigham Creek Road,
Minister Helen Clark, local iwi, Transit the 1,640 metres of wall to help protect Trig Road and Hobsonville Road and
New Zealand, North Shore City Council them from graffiti and help the walls there is provision for bus shoulder
and Waitakere City Council unveiled blend in with the natural environment. lanes to be added to each side in the
three bronze plaques at the eastern future. Major construction began in
September 2008 and is expected to
be completed by 2012.
Top left to right:
Urban design noise walls
New Upper Harbour Bridge next to original 1975
bridge
Left: Helen Clark and dignitaries unveiling plaque
at opening of Greenhithe Deviation in 2007
Auckland Motorways NZ Transport Agency 21Southwestern Motorway
Origins between Queenstown Road in Auckland Motorway. The Papatoetoe Bypass
I
City and Coronation Road in Manukau helped immensely, but links to Auckland
n 1977, State Highway 20 ran between
City was completed. International Airport also needed further
Neilson Street in Onehunga over the
improvements.
low level, narrow concrete bridge across In 1987, the 4.1 kilometre Papatoetoe
the Manukau Harbour into Mangere Bypass was constructed, linking new The solution was a new link to the
Bridge Township. roads built by Manukau City, Wiri airport on State Highway 20A (SH20A).
Station Road and Roscommon Road in Opened in 1992, the four-lane, 2.7
The route continued through local
the south to Massey Road in the north. kilometre expressway enabled motorists
streets to George Bolt Memorial Drive,
to travel at 80 km/h between the
then a two-lane rural road to the airport, Motorists traveling to Manukau City
intersection of George Bolt Memorial
before passing through Papatoetoe town Centre could now use the expressway
centre to link to the Southern Motorway instead of traveling through Papatoetoe
at the fast growing Manukau City Centre. Town Centre. Separating the traffic
The most significant developments resulted in less congestion through the
of the past 25 years have been the town centre and a quicker trip to the
Papatoetoe Bypass, the replacement Southern Motorway at Manukau City.
of Mangere Bridge, the continued Soon after, in 1989, the four-lane
construction of new motorway and the motorway was extended from
improved links to Auckland International Queenstown Road to Hillsborough Road
Airport on what are now SH20A and in Auckland City.
SH20B.
Keeping traffic flowing through
The new Mangere Bridge was opened Manukau City was a decisive factor
in 1983 and by 1984 the motorway in expanding the Southwestern
Above: The site of SH1 – SH20 interchange at Manu-
kau City before construction
Right: Keith Hay Park pedestrian bridge in Mt Roskill
22 NZ Transport Agency Auckland MotorwaysDrive and Kirkbride Road and the However, the growth in air travel along improvements again changed travel
airport. with significant investment at the airport patterns on SH20 and led Transit to
and the expanding commercial areas construct the Puhinui Road Interchange
Further expansion followed in 1997
around it meant a second access road that opened in August 2003, eliminating
between Massey Road and Coronation
was needed. a notorious roundabout at the end of
Drive when the Mangere Extension, 5.5
the Papatoetoe Bypass. Soon after in
km of motorway linking the Mangere The opening up of this new access
2004 the second airport access route
Bridge and Papatoetoe bypass sections to the airport involved the widening
was taken over by Transit and renamed
and George Bolt Memorial Drive, were and extension of Puhinui Road and
SH20B.
commissioned. This project completed the construction of Pukaki Bridge by
the link from SH20, down SH20A to Manukau City Council and Auckland
the airport. International Airport in 1996. These
Above: Hayr Road bridge during construction to
carry local traffic over Mt Roskill Extension, 2008
Left: Welding maintenance work on Mangere
Bridge, February 2006
Auckland Motorways NZ Transport Agency 23Auckland Motorway Network, 2008
KEY
= Arterial roads
ALBANY
= Motorways
= Northern Busway
NORTH
HARBOUR SH1 Upper Harbour Highway Interchange
SUNNYNOOK
1 FORREST HILL
GLENFIELD WESTLAKE
GREENHITHE
MILFORD
WAIRAU
VALLEY
18
TAKAPUNA
BEACHAVEN
BIRKDALE
NORTHCOTE
MASSEY
NORTH BIRKENHEAD SH1 Esmonde Road Interchange
DEVONPORT
MASSEY
SH16 Rosebank/Patiki Interchange
PONSONBY
AUCKLAND
CBD
HENDERSON MISSION BAY
PT CHEVALIER ORAKEIWESTERN
SPRINGS
TE ATATU
NEWMARKET ST JOHNS
16
MT EDEN MEADOWBANK
WATERVIEW EPSOM
KELSTON 1
HENDERSON GLEN INNES
SH1 Mt Wellington & Southeastern Highway
GREENLANE
MT ALBERT
THREE KINGS
PENROSE PANMURE HOWICK
MT WELLINGTON
MT ROSKILL
PAKURANGA
LYNFIELD
ONEHUNGA
TITIRANGI
HILLSBOROUGH
SH1 Highbrook Drive Interchange
OTAHUHU 1
20
OTARA
20
A
MANGERE PAPATOETOE
SH20 & SH20A Junction at Mangere MANUKAU
SH1 Redoubt Road InterchangeSH20 Mt Roskill Extension The project features two dedicated bus Pedestrian and cyclist footbridges and
On the Auckland side of the Manukau shoulder lanes as well as provision for a shared path will stretch along the
Harbour, construction of the four-lane, a rail line in the future, connecting to Waterfront Reserve in Mangere Bridge.
4 kilometre SH20 Mt Roskill Extension Auckland Regional Transport Authority’s Provision is also being made for a rail link
began in August 2005 and is well on proposed rail link to Auckland to run under both bridges to connect to
the way to being completed in 2009. International Airport. the ARTA proposed rail link to Auckland
International Airport.
Running between Queenstown Road in SH20 Manukau Harbour
Hillsborough and Richardson Road in Crossing Construction began in April 2008 and is
Mt Roskill, it is designed to link to the on track for completion in 2011.
Further north at Mangere Bridge, a new
SH20 Waterview Connection project
four-lane motorway bridge is being built SH20 – 1 Manukau Extension
in the future.
over the Manukau Harbour between
The SH20 to SH1 Manukau Extension,
Two interchanges at Hillsborough Onehunga and Mangere Bridge, parallel
a new four-lane motorway, will
Road and Dominion Road will separate to the existing bridge. Together, they will
connect the Southwestern Motorway
local motorway traffic and help provide eight traffic lanes and two bus
at Puhinui Road Interchange to SH1
relieve congestion through Mt Roskill, shoulder lanes. As part of the upgrade,
south of Manukau city centre. The 4.5
particularly the industrial areas around SH20 will be widened to six lanes and
km motorway will replace Wiri Station
May Road and Carr Road. Two new bus shoulder lanes added between
Road as the main link from the city to
pedestrian/cyclist bridges have already Queenstown Road and Walmsley Road.
the Southwestern Motorway, and is the
been built across the motorway at
The new and existing bridges will add southernmost link in the Western Ring
Keith Hay Park and Ernie Pinches
much needed capacity for motorists Route.
Street.
travelling across the Manukau
A dedicated cycleway running Harbour. They have been designed to
alongside the motorway is being accommodate the 160,000 vehicles Above: The new harbour crossing will be built to
the east of the existing Mangere Bridge
developed in conjunction with expected to use the crossing everyday Opposite above: Northwestern Motorway - where
Auckland City Council. by 2021. a new interchange will link to the Southwestern
Motorway
Opposite below: Underneath view of Mangere
Bridge
26 NZ Transport Agency Auckland MotorwaysConstruction started in November Looking Ahead
2006 and is scheduled to be
SH20 Waterview Connection
completed in 2010.
Connecting Mt Roskill Extension (SH20) to the Northwestern Motorway
Manukau Extension will improve
(SH16) at Waterview, the Waterview Connection proposes to use twin 3.2
access to and from Auckland
kilometre tunnels underneath Mt Roskill and Mt Albert. The tunnels are
International Airport and provide
part of a 4.5 kilometre, mostly underground route, to increase capacity and
relief for local roads. A new rail link
provide more reliable travel times. The new route will take traffic off local
into Manukau city centre, being
roads and create opportunities for improved bus transport.
constructed by Manukau City Council,
will provide better rail links and The tunnels will run 20 to 30 metres underground, with no disturbance
support growth at Wiri and airport to houses and residents above. There will be two interchanges, one at the
business zones. southern end at Maioro Street between Stoddard and Richardson Roads and
one at Waterview by Great North Road and the Northwestern Motorway
The project involves redesigning
(SH16). It will be the last link in the Western Ring Route.
the Redoubt Road Interchange to
incorporate a sweeping flyover to carry
traffic from the Southern Motorway.
The two motorways will connect via
a new tunnel passing underneath the
Southern Motorway to take motorists
south from the Southwestern
Motorway.
The Great South Road off-ramp will be
realigned and 12 new bridges built to
take local roads across the motorway.
Auckland Motorways NZ Transport Agency 27CHAPTER TWO
Keeping on moving
T he development of smart technology
systems such as CCTV monitoring
and moveable lane barriers allows
supplier to develop a system for the
Auckland Harbour Bridge. In early 1990,
a contract was entered into with Barrier
Advanced Traffic Management
System (ATMS)
In 1994 the seeds were sown to develop
the NZ Transport Agency to manage Systems International and in November
a traffic management system for
congestion and keep traffic moving on of that year, the moveable lane barrier
Auckland that went beyond lane control
the motorways during peak periods. (MLB) was installed.
signals for tidal flow and CCTV coverage
Moveable lane barrier The system incorporates tied concrete for the Harbour Bridge and its
units that are lifted by a special vehicle. approaches.
In the late eighties, accidents (serious
The ‘string’ is deposited off-set by 3.5
injury and multiple fatality), led Transit to Following consultation, planning and the
metres behind the machine - the width
install a safety barrier to prevent head on installation of an extended network of
of one lane.
collisions on the Auckland Harbour traffic data count stations, a contract
Bridge. However, as peak traffic demand Using two machines (at different times) was let in 1997 to a multi-national team
required a tidal flow operation, a fixed the barrier can go from a 4 x 4 lane to develop the concepts and standards
barrier was not a practical option. configuration to a 5 x 3 lane for an extensible advanced traffic
configuration in either direction, management system (ATMS).
American and French firms were in the
maintaining the traffic capacity for peak
early stages of developing moveable In late 1998, a contract was let to Serco
flows. This was a world first and variants
barriers for construction sites, and an (UK) for the installation of a base ATMS
of the system are now used
approach was made to an American consisting of CCTV coverage and
internationally.
variable message signs (VMS), with
temporary wireless connections between
the control room and the field
equipment.
The barrier eliminated head-on crashes
and has been a huge success. The
whole system is being replaced at a
cost of around $10m in 2008/2009
after 18 years of almost faultless
service. The new MLB will be lighter
and able to be repositioned in half the
time.
28 NZ Transport Agency Auckland MotorwaysRamp signals
Transit is currently installing 61 ramp
signals – 31 at on-ramps to the
Southern Motorway, 15 on the
Northwestern Motorway and 15 on
the Northern Motorway – to improve
traffic flows and help reduce
congestion.
The need for the system is underlined
by the fact that the Auckland region is
growing at an unprecedented rate.
Smart technology
A key skill of the ramp signal system
is its ability to use measuring
systems to detect, intervene and
prevent traffic conditions from
deteriorating, to keep traffic
flowing.
The original project was extended to To deliver Integrated Traffic Management assistance, on-road maintenance
include coverage south to Newmarket (ITM) across the region’s major arterial services, technical support and traveller
Viaduct and west to St Lukes to assist in routes, the Traffic Management Unit information. Staff also maintain the
traffic management for the upcoming (TMU) was established in 2003 as a website, coordinate temporary traffic
APEC meeting to be held in Auckland. joint venture between Transit and the activity and assist with travel demand
The system was commissioned and four Auckland region city councils. The management.
used to coordinate traffic for the visiting initiative was directed at providing a
Heads of State in September 1999. central location where over 600
signalised intersections could be
A second contract was let to Phillips
managed.
(Tyco) in 2000 to expand the system;
connect to field equipment via fibre As a result, the ATTOMS Traffic
Opposite top and below: CCTV cameras on
optic cables; replace and expand the Management Centre provides a 24 hour, Auckland Harbour Bridge
lane control signal system and provide a 365 days a year traffic management Auckland Harbour Bridge moveable lane barrier
stops a car from hitting oncoming traffic
comprehensive traffic management service for motorway and arterial road
Above top and below: Ramp signals leading onto
programme to drive the system from an traffic. This provides control room the Northern Motorway
enlarged control centre, later branded as operational services, incident response Moveable lane barrier machine in operation
ATTOMS.
Auckland Motorways NZ Transport Agency 29Ready, steady, go Accidents, breakdowns, debris,
Emergency advice
T
spillages and varied weather
he NZ Transport Agency works in
The NZ Transport Agency has a conditions all affect the motorways.
partnership with local authorities
lead role in managing transport Many incidents require an on-the-
to plan special events and manage
advice and resources in times of spot response and trained staff at
the more than 3000 lane closures
emergencies such as floods and ATTOMS in Northcote assist police
that take place on Auckland’s state
earthquakes. This involves working and contractors to provide on-road
highways every month.
closely with local authorities, support.
The NZ Transport Agency works
government agencies and service
with event organisers to put together
providers to contribute to an overall
integrated traffic management plans Above: Variable message signs keep motorists
emergency contingency plan which informed
for large events such as parades,
can then be implemented by the Below: Traffic management for Auckland Marathon
festivals and sports games. Planning
Civil Defence Emergency Opposite above: Messages change frequently to
minimises the impact on the road keep motorists updated
Management Group (CDEMG).
network and lets motorists know about Opposite below: ATTOMS control centre monitors
traffic flow
any changes or detours. Successful
traffic management during special
events relies on co-ordination with
event organisers, local councils and
police.
Event traffic management includes
green light priority corridors to enable
fast and safe transport for special
vehicles, convoys and VIP visitors.
Traffic light phases are adjusted to
help move traffic around events and
mobile electronic messaging signs are
strategically placed during events.
30 NZ Transport Agency Auckland MotorwaysYou can also read
