A long-awaited flyover set to reduce congestion at one of New Zealand’s busiest intersections will open to vehicles in the coming days, five months ahead of schedule and below budget.

Rā Hihi – a flyover directly linking Pakuranga Road to Pakuranga Highway in East Auckland was officially opened today by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Transport Minister Chris Bishop, Auckland Minister Simeon Brown and Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown.

Auckland Transport will open the flyover to citybound traffic in the coming days and open it in both directions in late October following the completion of intersection work.

Rā Hihi, a name gifted by mana whenua partners meaning ‘sun’s rays’, is a critical part of the Eastern Busway project, which is connecting East Auckland with rapid public transport to the rest of the city.

Auckland Transport Chief Executive Dean Kimpton says the flyover, also known locally as Reeves Road flyover, will have benefits for drivers and enable better public transport options on the busway beneath it.

“We are stoked to be able to open Rā Hihi ahead of schedule and below budget, bringing long awaited improvements to East Auckland drivers earlier than expected. I’d like to thank locals for their patience during construction.

“The flyover also allows the Eastern Busway to be extended from Pakuranga to Botany. With high frequency buses, the Eastern Busway will provide a reliable 40-minute bus and train trip between Botany, Pakuranga, Panmure and the city centre at Waitematā Station.

“The Eastern Busway is a key part of Auckland’s rapid transit network connecting East Auckland to the wider region.

“When City Rail Link opens next year people will be able to use the already open section of the busway from Pakuranga to catch a quick bus and a direct train to Eden Park, New Lynn and Henderson. When the full busway to Botany opens our connected network will make it easy to get from East to West Auckland without driving”, Mr Kimpton says.

About Rā Hihi and the Eastern Busway

• Rā Hihi carries four lanes of traffic, two in each direction. The structure is 600 metres long, 187 metres wide and 10 metres high.
• Rā Hihi is planned to open to citybound traffic on 1 October before opening in both directions on Monday 27 October. It cost $152m, more than $4m under budget.
• The Pakuranga to Botany section under construction will open in 2027. After construction completion, operational readiness work, including testing and commissioning, is needed to open the busway.
• By 2028, the busway is expected to carry 18,000 passengers per day, more than four times the highest pre-COVID patronage figures, with projections rising to 24,000 passengers per day by 2048.
• As well as connecting surrounding suburbs with the rail network, the Eastern Busway will also make local trips easier by providing more sustainable travel options for walking, biking and using the bus.
• The project includes 12km of dedicated walking and cycleways, 7km of busway and 5 new stations. It will deliver wide-ranging benefits for the area, increasing access to jobs and education, and attracting investment and growth.
• The Eastern Busway project is funded by the Government and Auckland Council. It is being delivered by an alliance of Auckland Transport with Fletcher Construction, ACCIONA, AECOM and Jacobs, in partnership with mana whenua.

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