New SH1 plan includes bypassing the Brynderwyns

NZTA wants feedback on the future of SH1 between Whangarei and Te Hana, including possibly bypassing the Brynderwyn Hills, above.

Feedback is being sought on options for upgrading State Highway One, south of Whangarei, including bypassing the Brynderwyns and four laning the highway to Te Hana.

The NZ Transport Agency wants community feedback on options for upgrading SH1 between Whangarei and Te Hana to improve safety and journey reliability.

It's part of a series of initiatives NZTA is planning to improve the road alignment to reduce the number of deaths and serious crashes and provide more predictable journeys on the key route between Northland and Auckland.

"SH1 is a vital link between Northland the rest of the country for freight, communities and tourism.

"Around two million tonnes of freight moves between Northland and Auckland each year and tourism in Northland accounts for $1 billion a year.

"Improving the region's freight connections will be a game changer for the wider Northland economy," NZTA system design manager, Brett Gliddon said.

Options for consultation include upgrading the existing road to a four-lane expressway, upgrading the existing highway for southbound traffic and building two new lanes to the west for northbound traffic, or building a new four-lane expressway either to the west or east of the existing highway.

Two options for a future bypass of the Brynderwyn Hills are also being looked at.

Bypassing the Brynderwyn Hills would provide greater resilience, improved safety and reduce the cost of travel, particularly for heavy vehicles using this section of SH1, NZTA said.

Public feedback was also being sought on options between Whangarei and Port Marsden Highway (SH15).

Almost 22km of SH1 would be upgraded to four lanes between Whangarei and Port Marsden Highway (SH15) with construction planned to start in 2019.

"We want communities involved from the very beginning to hear their views on the concepts we've created and how they think these will work in their communities.

"We will then use that feedback to help identify a preferred option for the Whangarei to Port Marsden Highway four-laning project and the Brynderwyn Bypass," Mr Gliddon said.

Three public information days would be held this month to explain the shortlisted options, answer questions and give people an opportunity to provide their thoughts on the plans.

Kaiwaka Memorial Hall, from 3pm to 7pm on August 15, Mata Hall, from 3pm to 7pm on August 17 and the i-Site at Whangarei Town Basin from 10am to 2pm on August 19.