Construction is ramping up on the Waihoehoe Road Upgrade in South Auckland, with the Government saying the project will play a key role in supporting growth in the rapidly expanding Drury area.
Transport Minister Chris Bishop says main construction is now getting underway, marking a major milestone for the project.
The upgrade forms part of a wider package of transport investments in South Auckland, including improvements to State Highway 1 between Papakura and Drury, new train stations at Drury, Ngākōroa and Paerātā, and the planned SH22 Drury upgrade.
Bishop says the project will help ensure road and rail infrastructure is delivered as a connected network.
“South Auckland is the region’s fastest growing area with more than 120,000 additional people expected to make it their home over the next 30 years,” he says.
“Investing in an integrated transport network supports the Government’s priorities of unlocking growth and improving access to new housing and jobs.”
Waihoehoe Road will eventually form part of a 4.5km east–west arterial route between Drury Hills Road and Jesmond Road, improving connections for local communities and supporting future rapid public transport.
The current works will widen and upgrade a 400-metre section between Great South Road and Kath Henry Lane, improving safety, capacity and resilience.
Access to the new Drury train station and nearby housing developments will also be enhanced.
Key features of the project include expanding the road from two to four lanes, with up to six lanes on a new bridge over the North Island Main Trunk Line, new signalised intersections, provision for future bus lanes, and new walking and cycling links.
The new bridge will also allow for future expansion of the rail corridor, including additional main lines.
Enabling works were completed in early 2025, with piling beginning in November 2025.
The project is expected to be completed by mid-2028 at a cost of between $136 million and $148 million.
