Auckland Motorway Strategic Plan charts future for city’s transport network

A 30-year roadmap for Auckland’s motorway network

Mott MacDonald, the global engineering, management and development consultancy, has supported the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) in developing the Auckland Motorway Strategic Plan (AMSP), a comprehensive strategy designed to guide the region’s motorway system over the next three decades as Auckland’s population grows.

Acting as lead consultant, Mott MacDonald worked with subconsultants Arup and SMEC to develop a strategic framework and investment roadmap for the AMSP, bringing together transport planning, modelling, operations, economics and stakeholder engagement expertise. Working closely with NZTA and key partners, the team applied a decision-led planning approach to transform complex technical evidence into a practical, long-term strategy for Auckland’s motorway network.

Since the mid-1950s, Auckland’s motorway network has been central to the region’s land transport, stretching more than 170 kilometres and facilitating over 1.5 million trips daily. The network remains vital for everyday life and for the wider Upper North Island, connecting Auckland’s communities and supporting New Zealand’s economy through links to the Port of Auckland and Auckland Airport.

The AMSP provides decision makers with a suite of investment options, supporting upcoming planning for Auckland’s 30-year transport plan and guiding regional and national transport priorities. It focuses on three core outcomes: optimising the existing network, targeted increases in capacity and wider system improvements.

Auckland Mayor, Wayne Brown, said: “People and businesses want to spend less time stuck in traffic and more time getting where they need to go. This plan recognises that we can't simply keep widening motorways forever. We need to make better use of the network we've got through optimisation and investing in small, sensible projects that will make the biggest difference for Aucklanders. It's also about making sure roads, public transport, freight and the wider transport network work together to keep Auckland moving as the city grows.”

Mike O’Halloran, managing director for Mott MacDonald in New Zealand, said: “The AMSP represents a step change in how Auckland plans, prioritises and invests in the future of its motorway network. By taking a whole-of-system approach, the plan provides a clear, long-term framework to improve performance, resilience and sustainability, while making the most of existing infrastructure. We’re proud to have supported NZTA in delivering this important piece of work, helping shape how people and freight will move across the region for decades to come.”

Mott MacDonald’s work on the AMSP builds on its long-standing involvement in shaping Auckland’s transport future, drawing on the team’s experience delivering major strategic planning projects across the region, including the Northwest Busway investment case.