Northwest Motorway
Encyclopedia
The Northwestern Motorway (also known historically as the Auckland–Kumeu Motorway), part of State Highway 16
(SH16), is the major western route and secondary northern route out of Auckland
in New Zealand
. Eighteen kilometres in length with 16 junctions (including termini), the motorway runs from Stanley St in Parnell
through the Central Motorway Junction
, and west through urban Auckland to Waitakere City. Its western terminus is at Hobsonville Road in West Harbour, Waitakere City. A large part of it forms the middle section of the Western Ring Route
.
, was finished in 1952. The next section opened for traffic in 1955, then offering a two-laned 7.8 km section from Great North Road (current Exit 8) to Lincoln Road (current Exit 16). The section involved bridges over inlets of the Waitemata Harbour
, which cut the journey between central Auckland and its airport at Whenuapai
by 8 km. This section was later upgraded to four lanes.
In 1957, the motorway was extended westwards by one km to Lincoln Park Avenue, between the current Lincoln Road and Royal Road interchanges. In 1961, it was extended again by 2.7 km to its current terminus on Hobsonville Road at Westgate. Traffic could now travel 11.5 km on the Northwestern Motorway, and the journey between Auckland and Whenuapai was cut by a total of 9 km compared with local roads.
In 1966, the current Auckland International Airport
opened at Mangere, and Whenuapai reverted to a military airport. This affected the use of the motorway, delaying further extensions.
Motorway construction recommenced in the late 1970s, to connect the Northwestern Motorway at Waterview
to the Auckland city centre
, bypassing Great North Road. The first section to open was in 1979, stretching 2.4 km from Newton Road (Exit 5) to Western Springs
, at the current site of the eastbound on/off-ramps for St Lukes Road (Exit 6). At the same time, ramps opened as part of the Central Motorway Junction
from Newton Road to Nelson Street and Hobson Street (now Exit 4B), connecting the Northwestern Motorway to the city centre. Traffic could access the Southern
and Northern Motorway
s indirectly from the Nelson Street and Hobson Street intersections.
In 1981, the 2.4 km section between Great North Road at Waterview and Motions Road near Western Springs opened, leaving a small 1 km gap where traffic had to use Great North Road. This gap was filled in 1983 when the St Lukes Road interchange was completed.
In 1988, ramps were installed at the Central Motorway Junction to allow direct access between the Southern Motorway and the Northwestern Motorway. The following year, ramps opened between Grafton Gully
and the Northwestern Motorway, allowing motorway traffic direct access to the eastern city centre and the port.
In 2006, two new ramps were installed to directly connect the Northwestern Motorway and the Northern Motorway.
In September 2008, construction of a 3 kilometre, 2-lane extension of the Northwestern Motorway from Hobsonville Road to Brigham Creek Road in Whenuapai
started, along with a 6 kilometre, 4-lane extension of State Highway 18
motorway from the end of the Northwestern Motorway at Hobsonville Road to the western end of Upper Harbour Bridge in Hobsonville. Major upgrades are also planned between St Lukes and Westgate.
New Zealand State Highway 16
State Highway 16 is a New Zealand state highway linking Auckland City with Wellsford, via Auckland's Northwestern Motorway, Helensville and Kaukapakapa...
(SH16), is the major western route and secondary northern route out of Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. Eighteen kilometres in length with 16 junctions (including termini), the motorway runs from Stanley St in Parnell
Parnell, New Zealand
Parnell is a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. It is often billed as Auckland's "oldest suburb" since it dates from the earliest days of the European settlement of Auckland in 1841...
through the Central Motorway Junction
Central Motorway Junction
The Central Motorway Junction or CMJ , is the intersection of New Zealand State Highways 1 and 16, just south of the central business district of Auckland, New Zealand...
, and west through urban Auckland to Waitakere City. Its western terminus is at Hobsonville Road in West Harbour, Waitakere City. A large part of it forms the middle section of the Western Ring Route
Western Ring Route
The Western Ring Route is a motorway system being constructed in Auckland, New Zealand. It runs along three existing state highways: the Southwestern Motorway , the Northwestern Motorway and the Upper Harbour Highway . When finished it will surpass the Southern Motorway to become the longest...
.
History
The first section of the Northwestern Motorway, to Te AtatuTe Atatu
Te Atatu is the name of two suburbs in western Auckland, New Zealand: Te Atatu Peninsula and Te Atatu South. They are located next to each other some 10 kilometres to the west of the Auckland city centre....
, was finished in 1952. The next section opened for traffic in 1955, then offering a two-laned 7.8 km section from Great North Road (current Exit 8) to Lincoln Road (current Exit 16). The section involved bridges over inlets of the Waitemata Harbour
Waitemata Harbour
The quite famous Waitemata Harbour is the main access by sea to Auckland, New Zealand. For this reason it is often referred to as Auckland Harbour, despite the fact that it is only one of two harbours surrounding the city, and is crossed by the Auckland Harbour Bridge. The Waitemata forms the north...
, which cut the journey between central Auckland and its airport at Whenuapai
Whenuapai
Whenuapai is a suburb and airport located in the western Waitakere area of Auckland City, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located on the northwestern shore of the Waitemata Harbour, 15 kilometres to the northwest of Auckland's city centre. It is one of the landing points for the Southern...
by 8 km. This section was later upgraded to four lanes.
In 1957, the motorway was extended westwards by one km to Lincoln Park Avenue, between the current Lincoln Road and Royal Road interchanges. In 1961, it was extended again by 2.7 km to its current terminus on Hobsonville Road at Westgate. Traffic could now travel 11.5 km on the Northwestern Motorway, and the journey between Auckland and Whenuapai was cut by a total of 9 km compared with local roads.
In 1966, the current Auckland International Airport
Auckland International Airport
Auckland Airport is the largest and busiest airport in New Zealand with over 13 million passengers a year, expected to more than double by 2025...
opened at Mangere, and Whenuapai reverted to a military airport. This affected the use of the motorway, delaying further extensions.
Motorway construction recommenced in the late 1970s, to connect the Northwestern Motorway at Waterview
Waterview, New Zealand
Waterview is a suburb of Auckland City, located along the western edge of central part of Auckland's isthmus. The geographical boundaries of Waterview are Oakley Creek in the east, Heron Park in the south, the Waitemata Harbour in the West, and the SH16 motorway and the Oakley Creek inlet in the...
to the Auckland city centre
Auckland CBD
The Auckland CBD is the geographical and economic heart of the Auckland metropolitan area. Bounded by several major motorways and by the harbour coastline in the north, it is surrounded further out by mostly suburban areas...
, bypassing Great North Road. The first section to open was in 1979, stretching 2.4 km from Newton Road (Exit 5) to Western Springs
Western Springs
Western Springs is a residential suburb and park in the west of the city of Auckland in the north of New Zealand. It is located four kilometres to the west of the city centre, situated to the north of State Highway 16....
, at the current site of the eastbound on/off-ramps for St Lukes Road (Exit 6). At the same time, ramps opened as part of the Central Motorway Junction
Central Motorway Junction
The Central Motorway Junction or CMJ , is the intersection of New Zealand State Highways 1 and 16, just south of the central business district of Auckland, New Zealand...
from Newton Road to Nelson Street and Hobson Street (now Exit 4B), connecting the Northwestern Motorway to the city centre. Traffic could access the Southern
Auckland Southern Motorway
The Auckland Southern Motorway is the major route south out of the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is part of State Highway 1....
and Northern Motorway
Auckland Northern Motorway
The Auckland Northern Motorway is a major motorway in the Auckland Region of New Zealand, linking central Auckland City and Puhoi in the Rodney District, via the Hibiscus Coast and North Shore...
s indirectly from the Nelson Street and Hobson Street intersections.
In 1981, the 2.4 km section between Great North Road at Waterview and Motions Road near Western Springs opened, leaving a small 1 km gap where traffic had to use Great North Road. This gap was filled in 1983 when the St Lukes Road interchange was completed.
In 1988, ramps were installed at the Central Motorway Junction to allow direct access between the Southern Motorway and the Northwestern Motorway. The following year, ramps opened between Grafton Gully
Grafton Gully
Grafton Gully is a deep and very wide gully cutting northwards through the volcanic hills of the Auckland Volcanic Field in Auckland, New Zealand. It divides the CBD of the city from the suburbs of Grafton and Parnell in the east.Grafton Gully is crossed by Grafton Bridge near its south end...
and the Northwestern Motorway, allowing motorway traffic direct access to the eastern city centre and the port.
In 2006, two new ramps were installed to directly connect the Northwestern Motorway and the Northern Motorway.
In September 2008, construction of a 3 kilometre, 2-lane extension of the Northwestern Motorway from Hobsonville Road to Brigham Creek Road in Whenuapai
Whenuapai
Whenuapai is a suburb and airport located in the western Waitakere area of Auckland City, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located on the northwestern shore of the Waitemata Harbour, 15 kilometres to the northwest of Auckland's city centre. It is one of the landing points for the Southern...
started, along with a 6 kilometre, 4-lane extension of State Highway 18
New Zealand State Highway 18
State Highway 18 is a State Highway linking North Shore City and Waitakere City in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the northern part of the Western Ring Route...
motorway from the end of the Northwestern Motorway at Hobsonville Road to the western end of Upper Harbour Bridge in Hobsonville. Major upgrades are also planned between St Lukes and Westgate.
Interchanges
| Territorial authority | Location | km | # Exit number An exit number is a number assigned to a road junction, usually an exit from a freeway. It is usually marked on the same sign as the destinations of the exit, as well as a sign in the gore.... |
Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auckland Council Auckland Council The Auckland Council is the council for the Auckland Region in New Zealand. It began operating on 1 November 2010, combining the functions of the existing regional council and the region's seven previous city and district councils into one "super council" or "super city" governed by a mayor, 20... |
Parnell | 1.2 |  SH 16New Zealand State Highway 16 State Highway 16 is a New Zealand state highway linking Auckland City with Wellsford, via Auckland's Northwestern Motorway, Helensville and Kaukapakapa... Stanley Street – Port Ports of Auckland Ports of Auckland Limited , the successor to the Auckland Harbour Board, is the company administering Auckland's commercial freight and cruise ship harbour facilities... |
Northwestern Motorway ends | |
| Grafton | 1.7 | 2 |  SH 1 Southern MotorwayAuckland Southern Motorway The Auckland Southern Motorway is the major route south out of the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is part of State Highway 1.... – Manukau Manukau Manukau City was a large territorial authority in Auckland, New Zealand. The city was sometimes referred to as South Auckland, but this term did not possess official recognition and did not encompass areas like East Auckland, which was previously within the official boundaries of Manukau City... , Hamilton Hamilton, New Zealand Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland... |
Westbound exit and eastbound entrance | |
| 1.8 | 2A | Wellesley Street | Eastbound exit and westbound entrance | ||
| Auckland CBD Auckland CBD The Auckland CBD is the geographical and economic heart of the Auckland metropolitan area. Bounded by several major motorways and by the harbour coastline in the north, it is surrounded further out by mostly suburban areas... |
2.8 | 3 | SH 1 Northern Motorway Auckland Northern Motorway The Auckland Northern Motorway is a major motorway in the Auckland Region of New Zealand, linking central Auckland City and Puhoi in the Rodney District, via the Hibiscus Coast and North Shore... – North Shore North Shore, New Zealand North Shore City was the name of a city that existed in the Auckland region of New Zealand from 1989 until 2010. The city had a population of making it the fourth most populous city in New Zealand prior to November 2010... , Whangarei Whangarei Whangarei, pronounced , is the northernmost city in New Zealand and the regional capital of Northland Region. Although commonly classified as a city, it is officially part of the Whangarei District, administered by the Whangarei District Council a local body created in 1989 to administer both the... |
Westbound exit and eastbound entrance | |
| 3.2 | 4C | SH 1 Southern Motorway Auckland Southern Motorway The Auckland Southern Motorway is the major route south out of the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is part of State Highway 1.... – Manukau Manukau Manukau City was a large territorial authority in Auckland, New Zealand. The city was sometimes referred to as South Auckland, but this term did not possess official recognition and did not encompass areas like East Auckland, which was previously within the official boundaries of Manukau City... , Hamilton Hamilton, New Zealand Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland... |
Eastbound exit and westbound entrance | ||
| 3.3 | 4B | Nelson Street – City Centre Auckland CBD The Auckland CBD is the geographical and economic heart of the Auckland metropolitan area. Bounded by several major motorways and by the harbour coastline in the north, it is surrounded further out by mostly suburban areas... , Sky City SKYCITY Auckland SKYCITY Auckland is a casino and event centre in the Central Business District of Auckland, New Zealand. Located at the base of the Sky Tower, it was the second casino in New Zealand, and still is the only one in Auckland.... |
Eastbound exit and westbound entrance | ||
| 4A | SH 1 Northern Motorway Auckland Northern Motorway The Auckland Northern Motorway is a major motorway in the Auckland Region of New Zealand, linking central Auckland City and Puhoi in the Rodney District, via the Hibiscus Coast and North Shore... – North Shore North Shore, New Zealand North Shore City was the name of a city that existed in the Auckland region of New Zealand from 1989 until 2010. The city had a population of making it the fourth most populous city in New Zealand prior to November 2010... , Whangarei Whangarei Whangarei, pronounced , is the northernmost city in New Zealand and the regional capital of Northland Region. Although commonly classified as a city, it is officially part of the Whangarei District, administered by the Whangarei District Council a local body created in 1989 to administer both the... |
Eastbound exit and westbound entrance | |||
| Newton | 3.5 | 5 | Newton Road | Eastbound exit and westbound entrance | |
| Western Springs | 6.3 | 6 | Route 9 St Lukes Road – Mt Albert Mount Albert, New Zealand Mount Albert is a volcanic peak and suburban area in the city of Auckland, New Zealand. The suburb was Auckland's second, after Remuera, and was mostly settled by well-off families in the late 1800s and early 1900s... , Western Springs Western Springs Western Springs is a residential suburb and park in the west of the city of Auckland in the north of New Zealand. It is located four kilometres to the west of the city centre, situated to the north of State Highway 16.... , Pt Chevalier Point Chevalier Point Chevalier is a suburb and peninsula in the west of the city of Auckland in the north of New Zealand. It is located five kilometres to the west of the city centre on the southern shore of the Waitemata Harbour.... Zoo Auckland Zoo Auckland Zoo is a zoological garden in Auckland, New Zealand, situated next to Western Springs park not far from Auckland's central business district. It is run by the Auckland City Council with the Auckland Zoological Society as a supporting organisation.... , MOTAT Museum of Transport and Technology The Museum of Transport and Technology is a museum located in Western Springs, Auckland, New Zealand. It is located close to the Western Springs Stadium, Auckland Zoo and the Western Springs Park. The museum has large collections of civilian and military aircraft and other land transport vehicles... |
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| Point Chevalier | 8.1 | 8 | Route 11 Great North Road – Avondale Avondale, Auckland Avondale is a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand, located in the Whau ward, one of the thirteen administrative divisions for the Auckland Council. It is commonly considered to be part of West Auckland. It was originally called "Te Whau", which is the common name, of Māori origin, for Entelea... , New Lynn New Lynn, New Zealand New Lynn is a residential suburb, located in the former Waitakere City, one of the four main urbanised regions that have since become the city of Auckland, in northern New Zealand.The population was 15,510 in the 2006 Census, an increase of 1,446 from 2001.... |
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| Proposed junction with SH20 Waterview Connection SH20 Waterview Connection The Waterview Connection is a planned motorway section which will form part of the Western Ring Route through Auckland, New Zealand. It is to connect the stub of State Highway 20 in the south from Mt Roskill to join up with another motorway, State Highway 16 in the west at Point Chevalier, and is a... Will be integrated with current Great North Road junction (Exit 8) |
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| Avondale North | 10.8 | 11 | Rosebank Road | Westbound exit and eastbound entrance | |
| 12.3 | 12 | Patiki Road – Avondale Avondale, Auckland Avondale is a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand, located in the Whau ward, one of the thirteen administrative divisions for the Auckland Council. It is commonly considered to be part of West Auckland. It was originally called "Te Whau", which is the common name, of Māori origin, for Entelea... , New Lynn New Lynn, New Zealand New Lynn is a residential suburb, located in the former Waitakere City, one of the four main urbanised regions that have since become the city of Auckland, in northern New Zealand.The population was 15,510 in the 2006 Census, an increase of 1,446 from 2001.... |
Eastbound exit and westbound entrance | ||
| Te Atatu South | 13.5 | 14 | Route 13 Te Atatu Road – Henderson Henderson, New Zealand Henderson is a major suburb of Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located 13 kilometres to the west of Auckland city centre, and two kilometres to the west of the Whau River, a southwestern arm of the Waitemata Harbour.-Description:... |
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| Lincoln North | 15.6 | 16 | Route 19 Lincoln Road – Henderson Henderson, New Zealand Henderson is a major suburb of Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located 13 kilometres to the west of Auckland city centre, and two kilometres to the west of the Whau River, a southwestern arm of the Waitemata Harbour.-Description:... |
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| Massey East | 17.8 | 18 | Royal Road | Westbound exit and eastbound entrance | |
| Westgate | 19.4 | Route 32 Hobsonville Road | Westbound exit and eastbound entrance | ||
 SH 18New Zealand State Highway 18 State Highway 18 is a State Highway linking North Shore City and Waitakere City in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the northern part of the Western Ring Route... Upper Harbour Motorway – North Shore |
Westbound exit and eastbound entrance | ||||
| Whenuapai | SH 16 New Zealand State Highway 18 State Highway 18 is a State Highway linking North Shore City and Waitakere City in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the northern part of the Western Ring Route... – Kumeu, Helensville |
Northwestern Motorway ends | |||
See also
- Northwestern CyclewayNorthwestern CyclewayThe Northwestern Cycleway is a 12 km mostly off-road cycle route connecting the Auckland CBD in Auckland City with Henderson, Waitakere City in New Zealand...
- List of motorways, expressways, and highways in Auckland