Northern Connection (Pukerito Roundabout)

Pukerito is where the new Ara Tūhono – Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway will connect with State Highway 1 (SH1) at the northern end, between Hudson Road and Kaipara Flats Road. Pukerito will be an important landmark, particularly to the residents of Warkworth and to travelers heading to and from Matakana, Whangarei, and the Far North.

The name Pukerito was gifted to the project by Hōkai Nuku. It can be translated as ‘middle hill’ and signifies the general area as a gully between two hills.


What are we doing?

Overview of the upcoming State Highway 1 road closures

With work on the new motorway connections progressing, the focus for the northern end of the project is completing the final OPGA pavement surface.

Please check the information and schedule below regularly for any changes so you can plan ahead and avoid congestion.

SH1 overnight road closures

Activity

Dates and Times

Impact

Final pavement surfacing (NX2)


 Sunday 19 March to Thursday 23 March

(9pm to 5am)

State Highway 1 will be closed in both direction between Kiapara Flats Road/Goatley and Hudson intersections.


There will be a detour around Warkworth (via Woodcocks or Hudson Roads, Carran, and Kaipara Flats Road). The detour will add up to 10 minutes travel time for road users, so we advise planning ahead for travel over this time.

Dome Valley Maintenace 


(Fulton Hogan Whangārei)

 Sunday 26 March to Thursday 30 March

(9pm to 5am)


The planned SH1 closure between Warkworth to Wellsford, from Sunday 26 to Thursday 30 March, is still going ahead as planned – however this closure will be managed by the Waka Kotahi maintenance team as both teams are working together to get as much work done as possible during the closures.

State Highway 1 will be closed in both direction between Warkworth and Wellsford.


There will be a detour in place via SH16, this detour will add up to 30 minutes to the journey.  If you are travelling north, you can exit the motorway at Silverdale to SH16 and avoid the Warkworth area. 


Over Dimension vehicles will be assisted through site via our traffic management team by prior arrangement.  Heavy vehicles are advised to take State Highway 16.

While all efforts have been made to limit disruption to traffic flows, we encourage you to plan your journey over this time and check the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner before heading out www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz

 These construction works connecting the Northern Connection and SH1 are part of the final stages before the new motorway can be opened later this year. While this will no doubt impact travel, completion of these works takes us closer to opening the new motorway as soon as possible and we are all looking forward to enjoying a safer, more resilient and reliable road with more consistent travel times.

Map - State Highway 1 closure from Kiapara Flats Road/Goatley and Hudson intersections.


Map – State Highway 1 closure from Warkworth to Wellsford




 

ASSET MAINTENANCE & MANAGEMENT (AM&M) BUILDING





Located between Pukerito and Auckland Transport’s Matakana Link Road intersection is the Asset Maintenance & Management (AM&M) building. This is being built as a maintenance depot and office facilities for the ongoing maintenance and operation of this section of SH1.

The location was chosen next to the roundabout for ease of access to the main alignment and to provide better response times in case of emergencies on the motorway.










KEY FEATURES OF PUKERITO ROUNDABOUT INCLUDE:
  • A multi-lane roundabout with three exit points: The north-bound exit (onto existing SH1), the east-bound exit (heading towards Warkworth), and the south-bound exit (entering the new motorway)
  • Widening of existing SH1 between the new roundabout and the SH1/Hudson Road intersection to provide two lanes in each direction (plus additional for turning movements)
  • A left turn slip lane from the motorway to exiting SH1 (northbound)
  • A left turn slip lane from the existing SH1 towards Warkworth (eastbound)
  • A left turn slip lane from Warkworth towards the motorway (southbound)
  • A shared walking and cycling path

Traffic signals

Two signalised road crossings will be installed: one for Matakana Link Road and the other on SH1 South.

Landscaping

The wetland forest which previously occupied the low-lying ground on the approach to the roundabout from the south will be regenerated. Planting around the northern roundabout will be bold and will include a selection of locally relevant indigenous specimens.