Motorway work ahead of schedule

Earthmoving machinery works at the construction site for the Hobsonville Deviation. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Auckland's new $220 million motorway through Hobsonville is expected to open in September, six months ahead of schedule.

The Transport Agency predicted yesterday that the new 6km link between the end of the Northwestern Motorway and Greenhithe would have a major effect on reducing congestion in the Upper Waitemata Harbour.

Transport Minister Steven Joyce said the likelihood that the project would be ready in time for the Rugby World Cup would be a bonus.

Agency northern highways manager Tommy Parker said traffic on Hobsonville Rd was expected to decline from almost 40,000 vehicles a day to 6550 once the motorway became available as a direct route between Westgate and the North Shore.

It would also reduce travel times.

The new roading will be complemented by a 3km four-lane extension of the Northwestern Motorway from Westgate to a newly-opened roundabout intersection with the existing State Highway 16 at Brigham Creek Rd.

Direct access from the motorway to the Government's new housing development at the former Hobsonville Air Force base will be provided by an interchange at Squadron Dr.

Auckland Transport is also preparing to start construction in June of a ferry terminal at Hobsonville, to be completed by February, its board was told yesterday.

Mr Parker said construction deadlines on the motorway project remained subject to the winter weather as contractors prepared to lay the final surface on the motorway.

"But we are optimistic we can meet the September target."

He attributed the rapid progress to a combination of fine summer weather and innovative construction by project contractor Heb and designers at Aurecon.

Completion of the motorway will leave the Transport Agency's $1.7 billion Waterview Connection project as the only remaining link to be built on Auckland's western ring route, although road-widening work is still needed at each end of the 48km route to ease queuing to join State Highway 1.