Big changes to Auckland's roading network

Some 50 kilometres of Auckland roads have had their State Highway status uplifted and their ownership has been transferred from the NZ Transport Agency to Auckland Council, and they will now be maintained and operated as local roads by Auckland Transport.

At the same time, the city gains 14 kilometres of new State Highways as a result of the NZTA’s extensive motorway building programme.

The official process to uplift or revoke State Highway status affects six different sections of highway across the city – SHs 16, 17 18, 18A and 20.

The biggest change affects SH17 – also known as the Dairy Flat Highway and the Hibiscus Coast Highway. All 31 kilometres - between Albany, Silverdale, Orewa and Puhoi - loses its State Highway status.

”With the opening three-and-a-half years ago of the of the Northern Gateway Toll Road as part of SH1, there is now no need to maintain two State Highways so close to each other,” says the NZTA’s acting State Highways Manager for Auckland and Northland, Steve Mutton.

Other sections that have been revoked are:

• SH16, Parnell (Shipwright Lane and part of Parnell Rise) – 200 metres approximately
• SH16, Westgate (Hobsonville Rd, Don Buck Rd roundabout, Fred Taylor Drive) – 4 kilometres
• SH18, Hobsonville Rd (Westgate overbridge to Monterey Park) - 5.5 kilometres
• SH18A, Greenhithe (part of Albany Highway and Upper Harbour Drive) - 4 kilometres
• SH20, Manukau (Redoubt Rd overbridge, Manukau Station Rd, Wiri Station Rd, Roscommon Rd to the new section the SH20 motorway) – 5 kilometres

The four sections of roading that have been declared as State Highways are:

• SH16, Parnell (intersection of The Strand/Shipwright Lane to intersection of Parnell Rise/Stanley St) – 200 metres
• SH16, Brigham Creek Extension (Westgate to Brigham Creek Rd) – 3 kilometres
• SH18, Hobsonville Deviation (Westgate Shopping Centre to Monterey Park) – 6 kilometres
• SH20, Manukau (SH1/20 interchange to Puhinui Rd overpass) – 5 kilometres

“All these new sections of State Highway reflect the huge roading investment in Auckland in recent years to complete the Western Ring Route as an alternative to SH1 and to improve the flow of traffic through central Auckland – the most heavily used section of our motorway network,” Mr Mutton says.

“The NZTA and Auckland Transport are committed to working together to rationalise the State Highway and local road network for the benefit of all drivers in Auckland.”

The NZ Transport Agency works to create transport solutions for all New Zealanders – from helping new drivers earn their licences, to leading safety campaigns to investing in public transport, state highways and local roads. Follow us on twitter @nzta_news.