The Government decided in June 2021 not to proceed with the construction of the full Mill Road corridor at this time, and asked Waka Kotahi to rescope the project to deliver upgrades to the existing Mill Road / Redoubt Road corridor (Manukau to Takaanini) and investment in the Drury road network.
The aims are to improve safety, walking, cycling and public transport connections, as well as supporting additional housing and decarbonisation.
The Government made this decision to meet climate change and housing objectives, as well as manage costs and debt responsibly following COVID-19.
The scope change allows for investment in transport upgrades to provide access to planned new housing developments and rail stations in Drury. This will be in a way that supports the Government’s decarbonisation goals, makes streets safer, and provides more reliable connections.
The Manukau to Takaanini Access and Safety Project stretches between the Manukau City CBD and Clevedon Road in the Takaanini/ Papakura area. The corridor starts at the northern end of Manukau Station Road/Osterley Way intersection and runs along Redoubt Road, Mill Road and Cosgrave Road to the Cosgrave Road/Clevedon Road intersection in the south. To connect into the wider multi-modal network, it also includes Hollyford Drive, Aspiring Avenue, Murphys Road and Airfield Road.
Waka Kotahi has developed options for the rescoped Manukau to Takaanini and Drury transport improvements, and presented these within the rescoped South Auckland Package Business Case for ministers’ approval in August 2023.
The previous proposals for the full Mill Road corridor, which is not proceeding through the New Zealand Upgrade Programme (NZUP), remains part of the South Auckland strategic transport network endorsed as part of the Auckland Transport Alignment Project (ATAP). Long term route protection remains a consideration but would be dependent on funding availability through sources other than NZUP.
The project team:
To be confirmed
Business case presented to ministers – August 2023
Supporting urban development
Building network resilience
Enhancing walking and cycling
Improving public transport
Improving safety