The Southern Corridor Improvements project is extremely complex and work is taking place within a highly constrained and narrow motorway corridor, resulting in a staged construction approach to ensure the motorway continues to operate during the work.

All additional motorway lanes being delivered by the project have now been opened, concluding with the opening of additional (third) lanes in both directions between Takanini and Papakura Interchanges in December 2019.

All work on the project was put on hold during the COVID-19 lockdown implemented on 26 March 2020.

Work has since restarted, however the full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the project completion date is not yet known.

The project’s completion programme is currently being reviewed, taking account of the pandemic, the loss of a significant portion of the main summer construction season, operating restrictions and resource constraints under lower Alert levels, and the current winter weather.

Other parts of the project to be completed in 2020 include:

final resurfacing and line marking of the motorway between Takanini and Papakura interchanges.

completion and opening of the shared walking and cycling pathway alongside SH1 between Takanini and Papakura, including the new pedestrian bridge over SH1 at Pescara Point.

works on Great South Road and the motorway ramps around Takanini Interchange.

lighting improvements, stormwater treatment, landscaping and urban design features.

To see the latest photos and read about works progress, please read our construction update.