Matakana Rd Shortcut Proposal Crucial to Warkworth Business Productivity

This Saturday, four new road configuration options for Matakana Road into Warkworth will be presented to the public at Auckland Transport’s open day at the Mahurangi Rugby Club.

The proposal is in response to a growing problem in the Warkworth region – traffic returning to Auckland from popular holiday destination like Matakana, Omaha Beach and Tawharanui.

Initially evaluating 10 potential routes to improve transport links between Warkworth and the eastern townships and holiday spots, Auckland Transport narrowed these down to four, all of which join SH1 just north of the Mahurangi Rugby Club

Completion of any of these proposed options would have a hugely positive impact on service businesses that rely on their employees travelling around the region throughout the day.

Mike Bronkhorst, owner of Warkworth builders, DuraBuild comments on how congestion around the now infamous Hill Street intersection

“My site managers and I often travel frequently throughout the region, passing through the intersection sometimes a dozen times a day. We are constantly having to battle with congestion, time which we would much rather be spending on-site”.

During the summer period, travel time between Matakana and Warkworth could be upwards of 45 minutes for what is usually a 10 minute journey.

With Warkworth expected to grow into a satellite town of over 20,000, it is crucial that the road network addresses both the needs of the expanding community as well as the increasing numbers of people visiting from out of town. Bronkhorst hopes Auckland Transport will make this new route a priority. 

“Traffic congestion is getting noticeably worse year on year. If they want the region to successfully grow into the town that it is earmarked to be, they need to address these issues now”.

Construction of the road link is expected to start in late 2018 and be completed prior to the opening of the new motorway in 2021.