Today, Hon Michael Wood together with Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust, MP Shanan Halbert and Ward Councillors John
Watson and Wayne Walker, Waka Kotahi representatives and project team members celebrated the completion of the 6km
kilometre shared path running adjacent to State Highway 1 and subsequently the completion of the approximately $1billion
project.
While Aucklanders have already begun reaping the benefits of a safer, more reliable transport journey on State Highway 1
and State Highway 18, the completion of the shared path from Constellation Station to Oteha Valley Road, which will open
on Monday, provides people with a genuine choice in how they travel, marking the completion of the Northern Corridor
Improvements Project.
The shared path has several local connections along the way at residential, commercial and industrial areas to help
people get around their local community or access services and places of work on foot or by bike. Connections with both
ramp and stair access support accessibility for a wide range of users, helping to create an inclusive transport network.
The project includes a suite of transport upgrades including the 5km extension to the Northern Busway to Albany which
opened in May 2022 and the completion of the Western Ring Route which opened in stages earlier this year.
However, Mark Kinvig National Manager Infrastructure Delivery says it hasn’t only been transport benefits delivered by
the project.
“The project impacted several local community sports and recreational facilities such as North Harbour Hockey, North
Harbour BMX and Wainoni Park Pony Club. These facilities were re-built by the project and are now considered world class
sports centres”.
Across the project area, a total of 360,000 native plants have been planted, restoring the natural environment with
species which reflect the history of the landscape as well as delivering benefits to the local ecosystem.
Ten wetland treatment ponds have also been constructed and planted, which cleanse surface runoff water prior to
discharging to local streams. This has delivered a significant improvement for our waterways and the environment along
with providing greater resilience during heavy rain events.
“The team has also installed a significant stage of Watercare’s Rosedale Ponds bypass under SH1 and the innovative
design of Tirohanga Whānui bridge provides both a walking and cycling connection across SH1 as well as carries a
watermain. This infrastructure enables and future proofs the region to cater for the North Shore’s development, where an
estimated 100,000 people are expected to make the area their home in the coming decades.
“These outcomes have a far-reaching positive impact above the immediate community and the landscape in which the project
is based.
“I am very proud of our alliance partners, Fulton Hogan, HEB Construction, WSP and Jacobs for delivering a project that
has achieved such a great outcome for the community and users of the network. It will leave a legacy which will be felt
across a range of transport, community and environmental aspects” says Mr Kinvig.