A message from Robert Jones – Project Director

Ramping up to Road Opening

The moment we have all been waiting for is soon upon us.

The Ara-Tūhono - Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway will open before the end of June. The project started over six years ago, with the sod turning on 3 November 2016. It has been a long road with many unprecedented hurdles, but what a road it is. This new piece of infrastructure is magnificent, resilient and safe. I can’t wait for the community and travelling public to enjoy the benefits of the new road.

Ahead of the road opening there are a few important things I would like to share around post opening construction works, motorway operation, and my departure from the project.

After the new motorway opens to traffic, there will be ongoing work for a number of months to fully complete the project. This includes work on the Pūhoi on and off-ramps, slip repairs, seasonal planting/landscaping, and final clean up of works areas; including removal of machinery and equipment, and tidying up the land no longer required for the motorway operation and returning it to its original condition. The remaining work will largely take place away from the main motorway and have minimal or no impact on the road users.

The most significant work that needs to take place is the Pūhoi on and off-ramp closures. These works can’t be completed until the motorway opens and are necessary to complete the construction of the ramps, which were opened in 2021 for temporary use so that the team could construct the new motorway and connect it to the existing Johnstones Hill Tunnels.

Pūhoi southbound on-ramp

The Pūhoi southbound on-ramp will close immediately after the new road opens, 24/7, for approximately four weeks.

Pūhoi residents, residents south of Moir Hill Road, and southbound traffic from ‘old SH1’ will not be able to access the southbound on-ramp during the construction period and motorists travelling south from Pūhoi will be detoured via the free route on Hibiscus Coast Highway while we complete this work.

Pūhoi northbound off-ramp

The Pūhoi northbound off-ramp will close at night immediately after the new road opens, from 9pm to 5am daily, for approximately two weeks.

Pūhoi residents and travelling public will not be able to exit at the northbound off-ramp during this time and will need to take the free route via Hibiscus Coast Highway, exiting SH1 from Grand Drive, Orewa.

Some of the work on both ramps is highly weather dependent and can’t be done in the rain or if the ground temperature is too cold, which affects the laying of asphalt. As we are now approaching the winter months it is likely there will be nights where we can’t work. The team have allowed for some contingency, however if there is significant rain or cold weather during these dates, the work will need to be pushed out to the next fine night. To keep up to date with the closures, please check the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner before heading out https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/

We fully appreciate this will be inconvenient especially for those living in these areas. We would like to thank the community for their patience, while we complete the last major step required to provide access to the new motorway and smoother ride for journeys to and from Pūhoi.

I would also like to take this opportunity to say goodbye and adios. I joined the project back in April 2018 and at that time it was anticipated that I would be around for a couple of years, however, along came COVID-19. It is now time for me to hand over the reins to a successor – Mike Elliot, who will take over as Project Director to close out these final stages. I wish him all the best.

So, please enjoy this new piece of infrastructure that has been a labour of love for me and the project team. We are proud of what has been achieved.

Thank you all for your patience and interactions with us over the years.

Nga mihi

Robert Jones – Project Director

For more information, call the NX2 team on:

24/7 Freephone: 0508 P2WK INFO (0508 7295 4636)

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: Ara Tūhono – Pūhoi to Warkworth

Web: nx2group.com