O-Mahurangi - Penlink will deliver a new seven kilometre, two-lane highway between Whangaparāoa Road and State Highway 1, north of Auckland. The project will provide a second access route to the Whangaparāoa Peninsula.
Key features of the project include:
- seven kilometres of highway between Whangaparāoa Road and SH1 at Redvale
- a shared path between Whangaparāoa Road and East Coast Road.
- two lanes with bus shoulder lanes on each side, and
- six bridges (including one crossing the Wēiti River).
The project will also be developed to enable widening to four lanes if required in future.
The project is part of the NZ Government's Roads of Regional Significance Program.
Key Dates
| May 2020 | Procurement Start |
| Sep 2021 | RFP Open |
| Feb 2022 | RFP Close |
| Jun 2022 | Contract Award |
| Oct 2023 | Construction Commencement |
| 2027 | Expected Construction Completion |
Funding contributions
| NZ Government | |
|
The project's design and construction will be funded by the NZ Government, while the government has stated operations and maintenance will be funded via tolling. It is unclear what model will be used to facilitate this arrangement. The project was previously proposed as a PPP. |
|
Procurement
| Procuring Agency: | Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency |
| Shortlist: | Whanga Huanui (comprising Fletcher, ACCIONA, Beca, and Jacobs) and HEB/FH (comprising HEB, Fulton Hogan, Aurecon, and Tonkin + Taylor). |
| Successful Tenderer: | HEB/FH (comprising HEB, Fulton Hogan, Aurecon, and Tonkin + Taylor) |
| Related contracts: |
PROJECT HISTORY
| Apr 2018 | Penlink was included in the Auckland Transport Alignment Project's investment priorities for the 2018-2028 decade. |
| Jan 2020 | The NZ Government announced NZ$411 million in funding for the project as part of the NZ$12 billion New Zealand Upgrade Program. Following the announcement of the NZ Upgrade Programme, responsibility for the project was transferred to Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency. |
| May 2020 | Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency opened Registrations of Interest (ROIs) for the project, closing on 3 June 2020. |
| Jun 2020 | Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency sought Registrations of Interest for a Principal Technical Advisor. ROIs closed on 30 June 2020. |
| Jul 2020 | A tender for professional service contracts was also issued. |
| Dec 2020 | Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency appointed GHD as Principal Technical Advisor for the project. GHD will further develop the preliminary design and provide assistance to Waka Kotahi through the procurement process for the appointment of construction partners to enter an Alliance to design and build the road. |
| Mar 2021 | The 2021-31 investment package of the Auckland Transport Alignment Project included Penlink as a fully funded commitment. |
| Apr 2021 | Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency shortlisted two bidders for the project. The consortia shortlisted to proceed to the Request for Proposal phase are Whanga Huanui, comprising Fletcher, ACCIONA, Beca, and Jacobs, and HEB/FH, comprising HEB, Fulton Hogan, Aurecon, and Tonkin & Taylor. |
| Jun 2021 | Following a re-evaluation of the New Zealand Upgrade Program, the delivery of Penlink was confirmed, with its cost revised from $411 million to an estimated NZ$830 million. Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency noted updated project timelines will be released in the coming months. |
| Jul 2021 | Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency announced that geotechnical works would commence in August and be completed in November 2021. |
| Sep 2021 | Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency opened the project's Request for Proposal (RFP) phase to shortlisted candidates. It was also announced that the project has been delayed by a year, with a contract award now expected in mid-2022 and construction completed by 2026. |
| Jun 2022 | Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency awarded the project's construction contract to a HEB, Fulton Hogan, Aurecon and Tonkin + Taylor Alliance. Separately, the NZ Government granted planning approval for the project. |
| Jan 2023 | Early works commenced on the project. |
| May 2023 | The New Zealand Government announced Penlink will be a toll road. Light vehicle tolls will initially be set at $3 during peak congestion periods and $2 in off-peak periods, with heavy vehicle tolls set at double the cost of light vehicles. |
| Oct 2023 | Main works commenced on the project. |
| Aug 2024 | NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi announced that construction of the Wēiti River Bridge component of the project would be delayed by up at least a year. The remainder of the project was announced as on track for the scheduled completion date in late 2026. |
Estimated Total Cost
(2021)
Sector
Road
Procurement approach
Alliance |
Location
New Zealand |
Resources
Government resources
Business Case Draft 20152014 Traffic and Economic Analysis
Project Presentation 2017
Draft Regional Land Transport Plan 2018-28
Media releases
2022/06/01 Implementation Business Case approved2022/06/10 Contract Award
2023/05/01 Tolling confirmed
2023/01/26 Early works commencement
2021/07/30 Geotechnical works announcement
2021/09/28 Tender documents issued
2020/05/19 ROIs open
2020/07/29 Tenders for professional services open
2020/01/29 Funding programme announced
2020/12/17 Professional services contract award
2021/04/01 D&C contractors shortlisted
2024/08/30 - Wēiti River Bridge delayed
