Section 1 update: Ara Tūhono – Warkworth to Te Hana

Ara Tūhono – Warkworth to Te Hana continues to progress at pace with the geotechnical team expanding recently to include ecologists and archaeologists. Our ecologists are working with the geotechnical team to develop a methodology for vegetation clearance during site investigations in Matariki Forest, and our archaeologists have been assessing all geotechnical sites for possible heritage discoveries.

The name Ara Tūhono was gifted to the project by Treaty partners, Hōkai Nuku and means ‘a connecting pathway’. This is exactly what this Road of National Significance will deliver, offering a gateway to the North, unlocking and boosting its economic potential. Hōkai Nuku is the authorised voice of four Iwi and Hapū mana whenua – Ngāti Manuhiri, Te Uri o Hau, Ngāti Rango of Kaipara and Ngāti Whātua. We have worked in partnership with Hōkai Nuku since 2010 when they originally formed to collaborate on the Ara Tūhono - Pūhoi to Wellsford project. They will continue to provide valuable specialist cultural and environmental advice for the Ara Tūhono -Warkworth to Te Hana stage of the Northland Corridor RoNS.

Recently we published this video flyover of Ara Tūhono – Warkworth to Te Hana. It shows the proposed route for the corridor and includes an impression of how the design could look.

Section 2 & 3: update: Te Hana to Whangārei We’re moving quickly to make decisions on Sections 2 & 3 of the Northland Corridor and expect to confirm an emerging preferred route for north of Te Hana in the first quarter of 2025. We’re continuing our conversations with key stakeholders including local councils. Last week we met with the Kaiwaka community to share the options we are looking at in their part of the corridor. We were asked some insightful questions, and it was great to hear the buzz in the community and their positivity towards the project.

Brynderwyn Hills recovery work We’d like to thank the community for their patience while we undertook the essential Brynderwyn Hills recovery work. Works are almost complete with only a final coat of asphalt still to go. This couldn’t be done during the closure, as all other work needed to be completed first and the asphalt can only be applied in warm, dry weather. To ensure the quality and longevity of the final coat of asphalt it also needs to be applied when there are no vehicles on the road. We know how important it is for people who use this road for it to be open this summer, so we have put off the final reseal, which needs to be done under a full closure, to late 2025. Traffic management will be in place in the meantime including the passing lane remaining closed.

Summer maintenance programme - chipsealing We’re investing in the largest road rebuild programme ever for Northland this summer maintenance period, along with resealing and resurfacing sites across the region. Warmer spring and summer months are the best time for resurfacing as daylight hours are longer and the warm temperatures and dry air help the new seal stick to the road surface. Chipsealing helps ensure a smooth, skid-resistant surface, free of potholes and slippery sections to reduce the risk of crashes and help keep everyone traveling on our roads safe. For a period of at least 24 hours after a site has been sealed, and before it is swept, it continues to operate under a reduced temporary speed limit while vehicles travel over the seal and help “bed in” the chip. Following this, the site is swept, excess chip is removed, and the temporary speed limit remains in place until line marking has been reinstated within 48 hours of the site being sealed, weather dependent. Keeping to temporary speed limits protects your vehicle from stone chips, keeps you and our workers safe and helps the surface bed in, meaning a longer stretch before we need to come back for more maintenance. We appreciate lots of roadworks happening across the network at once means your journey may take a little longer, but the work we do is really important to help improve your roads and make everyone’s journey safer and more enjoyable. Keep up to date with works happening near you and plan your journey using our journey planner.