ACCIONA, working in partnership with Aberdeen Investments through the Northway Consortium, has reached financial close with the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for the Warkworth to Te Hana highway development.
The project is valued at approximately NZ$3.6bn ($2.11bn) in net present value over a 32-year period encompassing construction and operation, with around NZ$3bn allocated for designing and building the road.
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As part of the Northway Consortium, both ACCIONA and Aberdeen own a 50% stake.
The Warkworth to Te Hana section forms part of the Ara Tūhono and is said to be the largest public-private partnership (PPP) infrastructure project in New Zealand’s history.
The new expressway will extend for 26km as a dual carriageway, featuring two lanes in each direction.
The project also includes three interchanges at Warkworth, Wellsford and Te Hana, in addition to two twin tunnels each over 1,000m in the Dome Valley region.
Fifteen bridges will be constructed, including a more than 400m-long structure over the Hoteo River.
Work on the highway will require excavating over 10hm³ of earth and constructing multiple specialised structures. Extensive drainage, paving and geotechnical stabilisation works are also planned.
The highway aims to improve connections between Auckland and Northland, facilitating freight movement, supporting local economies and providing more reliable transportation for communities and businesses.
Through a long-term concession agreement, Northway Consortium will finance, deliver and operate the project.
ACCIONA will be responsible for design, construction, operation and maintenance, drawing on experience from prior local developments such as the Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway, as well as the ongoing Eastern Busway project.
ACCIONA Construction for Australia and New Zealand managing director José Angel Andrés López said: “ACCIONA invests in, develops and operates infrastructure assets that create lasting value for communities.
“We are proud to bring together local capability and international expertise to deliver this transformational project for New Zealand providing long-term benefits through improved connectivity, economic growth and enhanced transport outcomes.”
The Warkworth to Te Hana route is a core part of the Northland Corridor Programme, a nearly 100km strategic infrastructure plan designed to transform transport links in the northern region.
Completion of the financial close marks the end of the procurement process, allowing work on New Zealand’s largest PPP project to begin.
Last month, ACCIONA Energía, ACCIONA’s renewable energy arm, started preparatory works on its Fleming Solar Farm in Fleming County, Kentucky, aiming to have the site operational by May 2028.
