The New Zealand Transport Agency is pushing ahead with the consenting process for Stage 1B1 of the Papakura to Drury South project, part of the New Zealand Upgrade Programme.

The application was lodged and accepted under the Government’s Covid-19 Recovery fast-trac consenting programme.

The project is part of a multimodal approach to the longer-term transport network designed to support growth in south Auckland, to enable more travel choices such as future bus services, improved rail access as well as greater safety, resilience and capacity of the highway network.

Stage 1B1 of the project includes a new shared use walking and cycling path built alongside the northbound lane of SH1 between Papakura and Drury, which will link in with the other Stage 1 sections and the rest of a city-wide network being developed.

It will also see the rebuild of the Drury interchange including the raising of bridges to allow KiwiRail enough space to electrify the rail line between Papakura and Pukekohe, as well as future-proofing for new tracks.

Construction began on Stage 1A in April this year, with crews widening the Southern motorway.

The New Zealand Transport Agency said it expects to lodge Notices of Requirement and consent applications for Stage 1B2 of the project next year.

The Government announced earlier this year that Stage 2 of the project, including Drury South interchange, will not be progressed as part of the New Zealand Upgrade Programme.

The New Zealand Transport Agency is currently working through the next steps for Stage 2 to Drury South, and Stage 3 from Drury South to Bombay, following the Government’s decision.