The Ara Tuhono Puhoi to Warkworth motorway is due to be completed in just over a year. Expected to open in May 2022, this huge project is moving quickly, despite the many setbacks experienced over the past year due to Covid 19.

The team has reached a number of milestones over the last few months, including laying the first asphalt on the new motorway and connecting the alignment from the north to the south. 

The final beams were installed on Woodcocks Road Bridge in March, meaning the project is now connected across from the north to the south. The 12 beams, which were lifted into place across three nights, were the last to be installed on the structures.

With 18.5 kilometres of motorway under construction, around 140,000 tonnes of asphalt is needed, about one quarter of all the asphalt laid across Auckland in a year. With such a large amount of asphalt to source, the most efficient way to do is with a dedicated local asphalt plant. The Silverdale plant will produce 2,000 tonnes of asphalt per day at its peak, which is then transported to site by truck. 

The Ara Tūhono – Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway uses open grade porous asphalt (OGPA). The OGPA surface will help to reduce road noise. It also assists with water runoff, increasing resistance and making the road safer for motorists. To further enhance the quality and longevity of the asphalt, and optimise production, special machinery has been brought to pave the road in one continuous width. This is the first asphalt paving machine of its kind in New Zealand.