A new date for the opening of the Puhoi to Warkworth motorway is under discussion.

Waka Kotahi – NZ transport Agency National Manager Commercial Andrew Thackwray says that under the terms of the Public Private Partnership (PPP), the road opening is determined by contractual agreements and obligations.

“The impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic response on these contractual matters and, in turn, the programme of works is currently being worked through with our partners,” he says. “Waka Kotahi will provide an update on the expected opening date as soon this work is finished.”

Thackwray says last year’s lengthy lockdown periods in Auckland, for example, required works on site to stop altogether, which naturally caused delays to the programme of works. In the meantime, the project continues to progress with recent milestones and highlights below:

• Both the Arawhiti ki Ōkahu and Arawhiti ki Pūhoi viaducts, at the southern end of the project, are finished. The widening of Hibiscus Coast Road is also complete.

• In the northern area, the maintenance buildings have been completed. Under the PPP, NX2 will maintain the motorway for 25 years following its opening. The new motorway will be operated and maintained from these buildings.

• More than 500,000 or half the plants destined for the site have planted across the project. NX2 has also completed five stormwater treatment wetlands.

• Along the motorway the team has been working on finishing the subgrades, ready for asphalt paving. A total of

32 per cent of the total road pavement has been placed so far which is 69,000 tonnes of a total of 165,000.