The Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway will bring a safer and quicker journey for commuters is expected to be open by May 2022. Drone footage captured a bird’s eye view of the work in progress earlier in October 2021, flying from Warkworth in the North to Pūhoi in the South. 

*“The Pūhoi to Warkworth project will extend the four-lane Northern Motorway (SH1) 18.5km from the Johnstones Hill Tunnels to just north of Warkworth. It is the first stage of the Ara Tūhono – Pūhoi to Wellsford project.

Ara Tūhono means a connecting pathway (Ara meaning pathway/passage and Ara Tūhono means connecting or linking one part to another).

The highway will be built to the west of the existing SH1 and bypass Warkworth on the western side. It will be a four-lane dual carriageway, separated by a central median with a safety barrier.”

Earlier this year in August disgruntled locals voiced their concerns about the proposed toll for the highway with 80% against the idea, which saw Transport Minister, Michael Wood declined the proposal. 

*Information sourced from https://nx2group.com/