The Ara Tūhono – Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway is now open. The new route provides a safer, more resilient and reliable route. It is a key strategic transport corridor for Aotearoa, connecting Tamaki Makaurau to Te Tai Tokerau.
The Ara Tūhono – Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway extends the Northern Motorway (SH1) from Johnstones Hill Tunnels to just north of Warkworth. Ara Tūhono means a connecting pathway and the name was gifted by our project treaty partners, Hōkai Nuku.
The motorway separates local traffic from traffic transiting through the area. It has vastly improved the safety, connectivity, and resilience of the network between Tamaki Makaurau Auckland and Te Tai Tokerau Northland, and opened up access to popular destinations between the two regions.
It has boosted the economic potential of the Te Tai Tokerau Northland region through:
It is the second motorway in Aotearoa New Zealand to be constructed on behalf of the New Zealand Government under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) contract. The Government’s PPP contract is with Northern Express Group (NX2).
Drone footage of the Ara Tūhono – Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway project area.
