The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has announced the preferred route for a new $760 million motorway between Puhoi and Warkworth.
The new route, which affects 50 property owners, will form part of the Puhoi to Wellsford road aimed at improving safety, reliability and journey times on State Highway 1 for freight, tourism and motorists.
NZTA says as the main road link for the freight industry, the new route will better connect Northland to the markets of Auckland and the central North Island to stimulate economic growth in Northland.
NZTA state highways manager for Auckland and Northland Tommy Parker said traffic modelling shows the average number of vehicles travelling between Puhoi and Warkworth each day is expected to increase from 19,700 in 2012 to 31,300 in 2026.
"Drivers will make significant time savings on an Auckland-Whangarei journey in 2026 when the Puhoi to Warkworth section of the RoNS is operating, and these time savings are expected to be greater for heavy vehicles carrying freight," he said.