Date: 27 May 2026
A third lane will be constructed on Pakūranga Road between Tī Rākau Drive intersection and Rā Hihi - flyover intersection, following community feedback about traffic heading east from Panmure.
Work will start in early June, take about six weeks, and occur mostly at night to reduce the impact on road users.
Since its opening, the flyover has improved travel times for those using it, but on Pakūranga Road at the intersection with the flyover there has been congestion, particularly for afternoon peak traffic.
“We acknowledge that people have been waiting to hear what happens next, and we thank everyone for their patience,” says Andy Huang, Auckland Transport Programme Director for the Eastern Busway.
“This decision follows detailed technical assessments, along with engagement with the Pakuranga MP, Howick councillors, Howick Local Board, Bike Auckland and neighbouring stakeholders.
“It is a complex location with limited road space and extensive underground utilities. It has taken time to work through these challenges and develop a clear understanding of the technical complexities involved, as well as the costs of each option being considered before confirming the upgrade.”
The upgrade will cost around $2.5 million, says Mr Huang.
The updated design balances a diverse range of expectations and increases traffic capacity through the intersection while delivering better value for money. It features a smoother curved intersection that is reduced in size to support the flow of vehicles travelling toward Howick, while retaining bidirectional cycle lanes on the southern side of Pakūranga Road.
A design to further upgrade the intersection with three straight-through lanes and no curve was also investigated as an option. This option had comparable traffic benefits but would cost around $11 million due to its complexity with limited road space and extensive underground utilities. Approval from Auckland Council would be needed before further work on this option is undertaken.
Changes to the intersection alone will not resolve congestion, which remains an ongoing challenge in East Auckland, driven by urban growth and a historic reliance on private vehicles due to limited transport options, shares Mr Huang.
Giving East Aucklanders more choices for how they travel, which the Eastern Busway is doing, will be a key part of managing congestion.
The project includes 12km of dedicated walking and cycleways and 7km of busway. When it opens in 2027, the Eastern Busway will further improve travel choice, meaning more people can choose to travel via bus or active modes like walking and cycling as the city grows – easing pressure on roads for those who need to drive. By 2028, the busway is expected to carry 18,000 passengers per day with projections rising to 24,000 passengers per day by 2048.
More information is available at www.easternbusway.nz/intersection.
-ENDS-
Notes to editors:
Work on site will include:
- Reshaping the existing curved island to create a smoother turning movement.
- Constructing an additional traffic lane along Pakūranga Road.
- Pavement surfacing and line marking.
- Constructing a bi-directional cycleway. This type of separated cycleway allows cyclists to travel in both directions on one side of the road.
The Eastern Busway is a key part of Auckland’s rapid transit network connecting East Auckland to the wider region.
People can already use the busway between Pakūranga and Panmure Station, where they can connect to trains to the city and the south. When the City Rail Link opens, people will be able to easily get to even more places – for example on a quick bus then a direct train to Eden Park, New Lynn and Henderson.
When it opens in 2027 the Eastern Busway will provide a reliable 40-minute bus and train trip between Botany, Pakuranga, Panmure and the city centre at Waitematā Station.