Tolling an option for Mill Road project planned for south Auckland - Bishop

The government has greenlit $91.1 million of funding for the Mill Rd highway in South Auckland to cover initial design work and consent costs.

The funding was approved by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) board and announced on Thursday by Transport Minister Chris Bishop.

Bishop said Mill Road was a crucial Road of National Significance, one of 17 for the government.

"South Auckland is the fastest growing area in the Auckland region, with 120,000 more people expected to make it their home over the next 30 years. We need to get on and deliver crucial transport infrastructure that supports that kind of growth, reduces congestion, improves safety, and helps unlock housing," Bishop said.

"Delivering Mill Road Stage 1 has substantial benefits, including a 30 percent reduction in congestion on the corridor, over 60 percent reduction in deaths and serious injuries, and by 2031, 25 percent faster journey times."

However, Bishop didn't rule out the inclusion of tolling for the new piece of roading.

He said the government policy statement on land transport 2024 required Waka Kotahi to consider tolling for all new Roads of National Significance.

"The investment case confirms tolling is possible and the revenue will support the construction and maintenance of the road."

The benefit cost ratio would be 2.2 if tolled, and un-tolled the ratio would be 3.1.

"The government will consider this recommendation and announce next steps of the process in due course," he said.

The investment case for Mill Road Stage 1 (Manukau to Alfriston) includes:

• A four lane (general traffic) corridor including a westbound bus lane at the northern end
• Two new and six upgraded intersections between SH1 interchange and Murphys Road
• Three new roundabouts
• New bridges across Puhinui Creek and Cheesman's Bush
• Current Mill Road south of Redoubt Road becomes a shared path and property access road

The Transport Minister said it was anticipated construction could begin as early as the middle of next year.

"Technical work to secure the route protection and other approvals for future Stages 2 and 3 is scheduled to begin from mid-2026," he said.

"In order to deliver benefits for the people, communities and businesses of South Auckland as soon as possible, NZTA are planning on dividing the construction of Stage 1 in different construction packages so they can start work sooner in places where there is more certainty around the existing environment.

"The plan is to focus on Stage 1b from Hollyford Drive to Hilltop Road, along with a piece of work to the south (Stage 1d), which includes roundabout improvements around the Mill Road Alfriston area. Stage 1a between State Highway 1 (SH1) and Hollyford Drive and Stage 1c from Hilltop Road to north of Alfriston will be delivered later."

The Minister said NZTA was working "at pace to build on earlier designs". It focus included improving the efficiency and resilience of the corridor, and increasing capacity to deliver faster, more reliable journey times.

"The project will also seek to obtain statutory approvals, likely via the Fast Track Approvals Act, and this will be confirmed in coming months."

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