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The State Highway 1 Papakura to Drury upgrade is a major transport infrastructure project designed to improve safety, capacity, and connectivity across one of South Auckland’s fastest-growing areas.
Source: NZTA
Recent progress reported by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi shows construction advancing across several key parts of the project. While temporary traffic changes remain necessary during construction, the completed upgrade is expected to provide wider motorway capacity, safer connections and more reliable journeys between Papakura and Drury.
Addressing Pressure on the Existing Network
The Southern Motorway is an essential route for residents, businesses, and freight travelling through South Auckland. However, the section between Papakura and Drury has come under increasing pressure as surrounding communities continue to grow.
Drury, Karaka, Paerātā, and Pukekohe are expected to accommodate significant residential and commercial development over the coming decades. This growth will place further demand on SH1, Great South Road and the surrounding local road network.
The existing motorway and Drury Interchange were not designed to support the level of traffic expected in the future. Limited capacity can contribute to congestion, less predictable travel times and delays at motorway entry and exit points. Without significant improvements, these challenges are likely to become more pronounced as the number of people living and working in the area increases.
Latest Construction Progress
Relatively dry winter conditions have allowed construction teams to make good progress across the Papakura to Drury section of SH1.
A traffic shift is now operating on the northbound lanes between Drury Interchange and Otūwairoa Stream, also known as Slippery Creek. This shift has created a new work area within the motorway’s central median, where the installation of stormwater pipes is continuing.
Source: NZTA
Work on the new southbound SH1 bridge over Otūwairoa Stream is also advancing. Construction teams have begun laying asphalt, with southbound traffic expected to move onto the new bridge in October 2026.
At Bremner Road, the central piles for the new bridge over Ngākōroa Stream have been completed. Work will now progress to the eastern bridge pier, including the installation of steel pile casings.
Source: NZTA
A retaining wall beside SH1 also remains under construction and is expected to be completed by October. Once finished, the temporary earth platform in front of it will be removed.
Source: NZTA
Further progress has been made at Drury Interchange on the new motorway bridge over Great South Road. At the intersection of SH22 and Great South Road, concrete has also been poured for a new footpath on the northern side of the road.
These milestones form part of a much larger programme of bridge, motorway, interchange and stormwater improvements.
What the Completed Project will Deliver
Once completed, the upgrade will provide three motorway lanes in each direction between the Papakura and Drury interchanges.
The additional capacity is intended to reduce pressure on this section of SH1 and improve journey-time reliability. Although motorway improvements cannot remove congestion entirely, the wider road corridor should allow traffic to move more efficiently and provide greater resilience during busy periods or unexpected disruptions.
The Drury Interchange will also be relocated further east and raised. This will improve access between SH1 and Great South Road while enabling rail electrification and allowing for potential additional rail lines in the future.
Source: NZTA
The wider project includes six new motorway bridges and their connecting road approaches, the replacement of two local road bridges, improved motorway alignment, wider shoulders, new median barriers, modern lighting, and road safety features, and upgraded stormwater infrastructure. A new four-kilometre shared path will also improve walking and cycling connections through the area.
Together, these improvements are intended to create a safer, more efficient transport corridor that can support the area’s long-term growth.
Why the Upgrade Matters for Drury
Transport infrastructure plays an important role in how successfully a growing community functions.
As more homes and businesses are developed, residents need reliable connections to workplaces, schools, healthcare facilities, retail centres, and other parts of Auckland. Businesses and freight operators also depend on efficient road access to move goods and provide services.
The completed SH1 upgrade is expected to improve access along and across the Southern Motorway. Wider motorway capacity should help reduce delays and create more consistent travel times, while safer entry and exit points should improve how traffic moves between SH1 and surrounding local roads.
Replacing and upgrading bridges will also allow the motorway and connecting roads to accommodate future demand. Once temporary construction layouts are removed, drivers should experience a smoother and more straightforward journey through the area.
Improved stormwater systems will help manage motorway runoff, while new retaining structures will support the upgraded road corridor. These less visible elements are essential to the safety, durability, and long-term performance of the infrastructure.
Supporting Different Ways to Travel
The project is not limited to motorway improvements. A new four-kilometre shared walking and cycling path will be created along the western side of SH1. Additional walking and cycling facilities are also planned along Great South Road beneath Drury Interchange.
Source: NZTA
These connections will provide more options for local journeys and improve access between nearby communities.
The relocated Drury Interchange has also been designed to support the rail corridor. By raising the motorway bridge over Great South Road and the railway, the project enables electrification and future-proofs the area for potential additional rail lines.
This coordination between road, rail, walking and cycling infrastructure is important because South Auckland’s future transport needs cannot be met through motorway capacity alone.
Drury Railway Station as a Transport Alternative
Drury Railway Station opened to passengers on 2 August 2026, connecting the area to Auckland’s Southern Line.
Source: NZTA
Train services operate from early morning until late evening, seven days a week. The line provides access to destinations including Papakura, Puhinui, Middlemore, Ōtāhuhu, Ellerslie, Newmarket, Parnell and Waitematā.
Passengers travelling to Auckland Airport can transfer to the AirportLink service at Puhinui. For residents travelling towards central Auckland or destinations along the Southern Line, rail now provides an alternative to using the motorway.
This offers greater flexibility and may help reduce pressure on SH1 as the local population increases. The road and rail improvements therefore serve different but complementary purposes. The motorway upgrade will support motorists, commercial vehicles and freight, while the railway provides a practical public transport option for suitable journeys.
Long-Term Connectivity for Watermere Residences
The SH1 Papakura to Drury upgrade is part of the wider infrastructure investment supporting the future of Drury, Karaka and surrounding South Auckland communities.
During construction, motorists may continue to encounter lane shifts, reduced speed limits, overnight closures and temporary detours. These measures are necessary to complete the project safely while keeping the motorway operational.
The long-term outcome will be a wider and safer motorway, improved local road connections and greater choice in how people travel.
For Goodform Properties, this investment reinforces the importance of delivering homes in areas supported by planned infrastructure and improving regional connectivity.
While construction will continue to bring temporary disruption, each completed stage moves Drury closer to a safer, more efficient, and better-connected transport network.
For Watermere Residences, its proximity to both SH1 and Drury Railway Station means residents will be well positioned to benefit from greater transport choice and improved connections across South Auckland.
To learn more about Watermere Residences or arrange a viewing, contact Nicolas Ching at 021 184 7777 or nicolas@goodformproperties.co.nz.
