Preparatory works have begun to build a new highway flyover in Auckland's Pakuranga with the closure of a local road, as the Eastern Busway project moves ahead.
The four-lane Reeves Road Flyover would be built as a 600m-long overhead extension of the South Eastern Highway, directly connecting it to Pakuranga Road.
The flyover would be built above Reeves Road, which began a two-year partial closure yesterday morning. Commuters on local Facebook groups were already complaining about increased congestion during rush hour as a result of the closure.
One commenter said it took 47 minutes to travel 5km along the Pakuranga Highway on Tuesday morning, describing the traffic as "absurd." Another alleged that stopped traffic had stretched back 6.3km to Howick's Stockade Hill.
Auckland Transport infrastructure director Murray Burt said the new road, built as part of the busway project, would help to ultimately reduce congestion in the local area.
"This will improve the flow of traffic and reduce congestion around Pakuranga town centre, playing a crucial role in the Eastern Busway’s success as the next stages are completed along Ti Rakau Drive towards Botany," he said in a media release.
"Motorists can use the new William Roberts Road connection, Gossamer Drive or Pakuranga Road as alternative routes while Reeves Road is closed for the flyover’s construction."
The road was expected to open in 2026. Pakuranga MP and Transport Minister Simeon Brown warned commuters about the Reeves Road closure on social media yesterday.
"I will be closely monitoring traffic congestion and encouraging Auckland Transport to make changes where needed."
The 18-metre-wide flyover would "decrease traffic by up to 40% during morning and evening peaks on Pakuranga Road and Ti Rakau Drive near Pakuranga town centre", according to Auckland Transport.
In addition to congestion-busting benefits, officials have previously said the flyover would also be needed to allow the new busway to operate.
The remaining stages of the Eastern Busway project, costed at $1.6 billion, would create bus and cycle lanes that were separated from general car traffic between Pakuranga and Botany.
Auckland Transport chief executive Dean Kimpton said millions of bus trips had already been accommodated on the sections of busway opened in stage one of the project.
"Since the first section of the Eastern Busway between Panmure and Pakuranga opened in December 2021, we’ve delivered more than 8.5 million passenger trips on our buses that use this corridor," he said in a media release.
"That number is only going to continue to grow as the next stages of the Eastern Busway are delivered and more people in East Auckland enjoy quicker, safer and more reliable journeys.
"By 2028, we’re expecting 18,000 passengers will travel on the Eastern Busway every day. This number is expected to be 24,000 by 2048."
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