Mill Road funding approved but may involve tolling

Transport Minister, Chris Bishop, says that NZTA has now endorsed the investment case for the first stage of the Mill Road redevelopment.  

The Board has approved $91.1m for completing the design work and securing consents on Stage One. Construction of this Road of National Significance will take place in three stages.

“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. We need to get on and deliver crucial transport infrastructure that supports that kind of growth…” Mr Bishop says.

“Mill Road is one of 17 Roads of National Significance (RoNS) this Government is progressing,” he added.

The investment case for Mill Road Stage 1 (Manukau to Alfriston) includes:

• A 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;
• The existing Mill Road south of Redoubt Road becomes a shared path and property access road.

“Delivering Mill Road Stage 1 has substantial benefits, including a 30 percent reduction in congestion on the corridor…”, said Bishop. 

It should also deliver a significant reduction in deaths and serious injuries from crashes. By 2031, it will also mean significantly faster journey times, once construction is complete. 

Building stage one is scheduled to begin midway through next year. Mill Road Stage 1 covers a range of different environments, including urban and rural areas. There are also locations that require more technical assessments.

“NZTA is planning on dividing the construction of Stage 1 into different packages so they can start work sooner in places where there is more certainty around the existing environment.”

“The plan is to focus on Stage 1b from Hollyford Drive to Hilltop Road, along with a piece of work to the south (Stage 1d). Stage 1a and Stage 1c will be delivered later.”

Technical work to secure the route protection and other approvals for future Stages 2 and 3 will begin from mid-2026.

The investment case confirms tolling is possible and the Government will decide on this in due course.

“South Auckland is the fastest growing area in the region, and we need to get on and deliver transport infrastructure that supports this growth” said the minister.