Media Release from NX2 Northern Express Group

As we progress work to fully link the new motorway to the existing State Highway 1 at Johnstones Hill Tunnels (JHT) we will be making further road layout changes to the Southern Connection.

We encourage you to plan your journey over the next couple of weeks as this work will involve lane changes and at times full road closures.

Work will take place over two weeks in mid-October, with four nights of full road closures during this time.

• Sunday 9 October – SH1 closure both directions – Silverdale to Johnstone Hill Tunnels northbound and Pūhoi to Grand Drive southbound. The detour will be via State Highway 16 and local roads, from 10pm to 5am.

• Sunday 16 October and Monday 17 October – SH1 closure northbound only – Silverdale to Johnstone Hill Tunnels. The detour will be via State Highway 16 and local roads, from 10pm to 5am.

• Wednesday 19 October – SH1 closure both directions – Silverdale to Johnstone Hill Tunnels northbound and Pūhoi to Grand Drive southbound. The detour will be via State Highway 16 and local roads, from 9pm to 5am.

From Monday 10 to Wednesday 19 October, the northbound tunnel will be closed and traffic travelling in both directions will use one side each of the southbound tunnel using a contraflow.

From Thursday 20 October, a slightly new road layout will be in place. Please drive with caution and keep to the sign-posted speed limit.

While the dates are fixed, bad weather may cause works to be postponed and rescheduled – we will keep you up to date. We are working hard to make sure this work is completed before the busy long weekend for Labour Day.

While we will try to limit disruption to traffic flows, road users should plan ahead by checking the Waka Kotahi journey planner. https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/ before heading out and allow more time for their journey.

The detour route via SH16 is suitable for HPMV’s. The Hibiscus Coast Highway (free route) will also remain open during this time. Traffic heading south towards Waiwera will continue onto this route as normal.

Safety is our highest priority, and a reduced speed limit of 50km/h will be always in place. We ask that drivers keep to the temporary speed limit for the safety of our work crews and road users, drive to the conditions and don’t be distracted by work activity.

We would like to thank our local neighbours and night-time road users for their patience while we undertake this important work to improve the safety and resilience of the network.

When it opens in 2023, the new Ara Tūhono – Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway will extend the four-lane Northern Motorway (SH1) 18.5km from the Johnstones Hill tunnels to just north of Warkworth.

It will vastly improve the safety, connectivity, and resilience of the transport network between Northland and Auckland, helping to boost the economic potential of the Northland region.