ACCIONA has successfully completed the Financial Close for the Warkworth to Te Hana project with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA).

This milestone marks the completion of the award process and formally launches the implementation of the largest Public Private Partnership (PPP) in the country’s history. The total overall project cost is approximately NZ$3.6 billion (€1.9 billion) net present value (NPV) during its 32-year construction and operating duration. This includes a nominal cost of around NZ$3 billion (€1.5 billion) to design and build the road.

The financing has been structured through the Northway Consortium, in which ACCIONA holds a 50% stake, alongside its partner Aberdeen Investments, which holds the remaining 50%.

EXPERIENCE

The project involves the construction of 26 kilometers of dual carriageway (with two lanes in each direction), three major interchanges located in Warkworth, Wellsford, and Te Hana, and two twin tunnels spanning over 1,000 meters in the Dome Valley.

The infrastructure also includes 15 bridges, most notably the one to be built over the Hoteo River, which will be more than 400 meters long. The route will traverse complex terrain that will require the excavation of more than 10Hm³ of earth and the construction of various unique structures, in addition to extensive drainage, paving, and geotechnical stabilization work.

This section is the backbone of the Northland Corridor Programme, a strategic corridor spanning nearly 100 kilometers which is designed to transform connectivity in the northern part of the country. The new highway will provide a safer and more efficient connection between Auckland and Northland, optimizing freight transport, driving regional economic development, and ensuring reliable transportation for local communities and businesses.

ACCIONA has applied the experience gained from previous projects in New Zealand, incorporating engineering solutions aimed at optimizing earthworks, maximizing the reuse of materials, and improving the infrastructure’s resilience to severe weather events. This project directly extends the Pūhoi–Warkworth highway, which was inaugurated with great success by the company in the same region.