Transport Minister Chris Bishop is welcoming the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) board’s endorsement of the investment case for stage one of the long-delayed Mill Road project.
The board has endorsed the investment case and approved $91.1 million for completing the design work and securing consents on stage one of the project.
“South Auckland is the fastest growing area in the Auckland region, with 120,000 more people expected to make it their home over the next 30 years,” Bishop says.
“We need to get on and deliver crucial transport infrastructure that supports that kind of growth, reduces congestion, improves safety, and helps unlock housing.
“Mill Road is one of 17 Roads of National Significance (RoNS) this Government is progressing.
“The NZTA board’s endorsement of the investment case and approval of design and consent funding for stage one is a direct result of our focus to streamline the business case process and get projects into delivery faster.”
The investment case for Mill Road stage one (Manukau to Alfriston) includes:
- Four lane (general traffic) corridor including a westbound bus lane at the northern end.
- Two new and six upgraded intersections between SH1 interchange and Murphys Road.
- Three new roundabouts.
- New bridges across Puhinui Creek and Cheesman’s Bush.
- Current Mill Road south of Redoubt Road becomes a shared path and property access road.
“Delivering Mill Road stage one has substantial benefits, including a 30 percent reduction in congestion on the corridor, over 60 percent reduction in deaths and serious injuries, and by 2031, 25 per cent faster journey times,” Bishop says.
“The endorsement of the investment case and approval of design and consent funding for stage one provides certainty on the next steps as the project moves to complete the design and technical work necessary for construction to begin as early as mid-2026.”
Mill Road stage one covers a range of different environments, including sections that are highly urban, through to rural areas, as well as locations that require more technical assessments to determine the most appropriate design and construction methods, Bishop says.
The plan is to focus on the stage from Hollyford Drive to Hilltop Road, along with work to the south which includes roundabout improvements around the Mill Road to Alfriston area.
Stage 1a between State Highway 1 (SH1) and Hollyford Drive and Stage 1c from Hilltop Road to north of Alfriston will be delivered later.
Bishop thanks local MPs Judith Collins, Rima Nakhle and Simeon Brown for their advocacy of the project.
Nakhle, the MP for Takanini, says: “I am delighted with the progress being made on Mill Road.
“Once completed, this project will improve commuter journeys and open up further land for development and growth.
“I’ve been advocating for this project since before I became an MP as locals repeatedly tell me that it is important to them.
“Our Government is continuing to work hard to deliver world-class roading infrastructure in our region that delivers economic growth, and you’re seeing that across Auckland with other Roads of National Significance.
“Projects like Mill Road help to deliver economic growth that ultimately provides more jobs, higher incomes and further opportunities to help families get ahead.”
