Work gets underway to improve Warkworth’s SH1/Hill Street

Work is planned to start tomorrow on the first stage of interim improvements to the State Highway 1/Hill Street intersection in Warkworth, north of Auckland.

The NZ Transport Agency says the Wellsford-based firm, Wharehine Contractors, will start work widening the northbound SH1 approach to the intersection.

The Transport Agency’s Highway Manager, Brett Gliddon, says widening both the northbound and southbound approaches to the intersection on SH1 is expected to be completed before Christmas, and work on a wider shared path for walkers and cyclists will start in the New Year. 

All work will be completed before next Easter.

“We are committed to delivering the interim improvements this summer to help traffic flow more smoothly and safely through Warkworth, and to the eastern beaches.

“After completing the Hudson Road intersection upgrade ahead of schedule, we are pleased to use Wharehine again to deliver this suite of interim improvements at Hill Street,” Mr Gliddon says.

The project includes several improvements:- 

• widening the northbound approach on SH1, and increasing the capacity of the right turn lane into Matakana Road by extending it back to the intersection with Shoesmith Street.
• widening the corresponding southbound approach, which will add some capacity for traffic turning left into Matakana Road.
• the southbound right turn lane from SH1 into Hill Street will be removed.  This will improve traffic flow by giving more green light time to other traffic. (please use the signposted alternative route to access Hill Street via Hudson Road and Falls Road)
• walkers and cyclists will benefit from a new wider shared path on the western side of SH1
• improving the connection between Sandspit Road and Elizabeth Street.

The start of work tomorrow will be dependent on the weather.  Work hours will be between 7am and 7pm.  No night works are planned at this stage.

The Transport Agency will fund 70% of the $1m project and Auckland Transport 30%. 

The two organisations have worked together on earlier upgrades of SH1 in Warkworth when the Transport Agency improved the state highway’s intersections at Woodcocks Road, Whitaker Road and Hudson Road. Auckland Transport provided funding for safety  improvements, including the installation of traffic signals.

Mr Gliddon says traffic management measures at Hill Street will be in place during construction and he asks people to take care driving through the construction site for the safety of themselves and contractors.

“It is a busy intersection and everything will be done to ensure a minimum of inconvenience for drivers. No work will occur during the busy holiday periods of Labour Weekend, Christmas/New Year, Auckland/Northland Anniversary and Waitangi Weekend.”

Wharehine have also reshaped and improved the bus bay entrance at Warkworth Primary School. When the right turn into Hill Street closes, buses will be re-routed via Hudson and Falls Roads and can safely turn right into the school’s entrance.

At this stage a date has not been confirmed for the closure of the SH1 southbound right turn into Hill Street.

Mr Gliddon says the Transport Agency will keep the community informed about progress via local media, letter drops and the project website at www.nzta.govt.nz/warkworth(external link). For those people who were unable to attend the project open day in August, the posters are available to download via the project website.

Mr Gliddon says as part of the longer term plans for Hill Street, the Transport Agency will continue to investigate the traffic impacts of the new Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway, the Western Collector and potential projects such as the Matakana Link.

For more information please contact:

Ewart Barnsley
Auckland/Northland Media Manager
NZ Transport Agency

T: 09 928 8720
M: 027 213 7616
E: ewart.barnsley@nzta.govt.nz