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Last updated
Project status Design

Project details

Start date

October 2025

End date

Late 2026 or early 2027

Location

Takanini, Auckland

Transport involved

Driving and bus

Overview

A number of level crossings along the Southern Line in Takanini will be replaced with new road bridges or walking and cycling bridges. These new bridges will separate trains from the roads. This will stop traffic delays and lower the risk of incidents between trains and vehicles or pedestrians. We expect to start work on the new bridges in 2027.

To help keep traffic moving in the meantime, we’re planning some changes to busy, frequently congested parts of Great South Road and connecting side streets.

We can make 3 of these changes in early 2026 before City Rail Link (CRL) opens.

We will paint new broken yellow lines (no stopping at all times) at targeted parts of Great South Road between Challen Close, Manuia Road and Maru Road. This will keep parked cars from blocking traffic flow.

We will also paint new broken yellow lines on 2 parts of Maru Road, across from Princess Street and across from Oakleigh Avenue. This is so vehicles can easily pass around right-turning vehicles.

We will paint yellow ‘do not block’ carriageway markings on the Great South Road and Walters Road roundabout. This is to discourage vehicles from queuing where they would block traffic flow.

Other changes can be made in the months after City Rail Link opens. This will be around late 2026 or early 2027. We will:

  • make room for more vehicle lanes on Great South Road between Maru Road and Glenora Road
  • upgrade traffic lights on Great South Road and the connecting side streets with smart technology and better coordination
  • change the roundabout at Walters Road and Porchester Road into a traffic light-controlled intersection to keep traffic moving efficiently at all times of day.

Timeline

Targeted engagement on early 2026 projects

Upcoming
October 2025

We’ll be engaging with directly impacted properties and stakeholders on our projects planned for early 2026 before City Rail Link opens.

Public engagement on Porchester Road and Walters Road intersection signalisation

Upcoming
Late February or March 2026

The design for our signalisation project will be live and open for public feedback.

Complete the pre-CRL optimisation projects

Upcoming
Early 2026

We’ll deliver the 3 pre-CRL optimisation projects on Great South Road:

  • between Challen Close, Manuia Road and Maru Road
  • on Maru Road at Princess Street and Oakleigh Avenue
  • at the Great South Road and Walters Road roundabout.

Public engagement on the Great South Road extra lanes project

Upcoming
May 2026

We’ll engage the community on our plans to make room for more lanes on Great South Road and to upgrade and coordinate the traffic lights.

Review public feedback and finalise design plans

Upcoming
Mid to late 2026

We will review the public feedback on our 3 post-CRL optimisation projects:

  • on Great South Road
  • at traffic lights on Great South Road and connecting streets
  • at the Porchester Road and Walters Road intersection.

We may make some design changes based on the public feedback. After we’ve finalised the designs, we will begin construction on the projects, likely towards the end of 2026 or early 2027.

Give feedback

Project background

Auckland Network Optimisation aims to make Auckland’s network more effective. It will do this by improving and providing effective travel choices and road safety. It is a joint programme between Auckland Transport and NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).

As Auckland continues to grow, so does our need to move more people and goods more efficiently. We also need to build resilience in both existing and new communities.

Aucklanders have told us they want a transport system that:

  • is convenient, well-connected, accessible and reliable
  • moves them around if they choose to drive, walk, ride a train, bus, bike or ferry.

To keep our city moving, we are making smarter, more dynamic use of our roads, footpaths and cycleways. New transport infrastructure is important but it’s also expensive. We’re adopting new technologies and systems to use our limited space and funding better.

We look at making relatively inexpensive and quick changes to our roads and paths to:

  • improve efficiency, safety and agility
  • support economic growth outcomes
  • reduce reliance on only major infrastructure to improve our transport network.

Small strategic changes, such as converting existing lanes to new bus or transit lanes, keep people and goods moving. These changes also support reliable public transport which contributes to a more connected, healthier city.

We will work with the community to deliver on transport initiatives that benefit all road users. Whether taking kids to schools, getting to and from work, cycling in the park, going shopping or heading to events, we're part of your life.

We're working to shape our city and provide transport choices for a growing, vibrant Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland.