Northern Express Group (NX2) Project Office

Welcome to the Northern Express Group (NX2) Project Office, located at 45 Wyllie Road in Warkworth, New Zealand. We are an establishment and general contractor that is dedicated to the development and construction of the Pūhoi to Warkworth project.

The Pūhoi to Warkworth project is an extension of the four-lane Northern Motorway (SH1), stretching 18.5km from the Johnstones Hill Tunnels to just north of Warkworth. This project is the first stage of the Ara Tūhono – Pūhoi to Wellsford project and was officially opened on June 16, 2023.

Ara Tūhono, which translates to "connecting pathway," represents the essence of this project, as it aims to link different parts of the region. The new highway was constructed to the west of the old SH1, bypassing Warkworth on the western side. It features a four-lane dual carriageway, with a central median and safety barrier ensuring improved safety and connectivity.

The benefits of this new route are numerous. It offers more reliable journey times, enhances freight connections for the Northland region, and supports economic and population growth. Furthermore, it improves connections between the growing areas in the northern Rodney area of Auckland and alleviates congestion at Warkworth by providing a bypass for through traffic.

Trucks, in particular, will experience significant time savings due to reduced grades and a better road layout, allowing them to maintain higher average speeds along the route. Currently, approximately 20,000 vehicles travel on SH1 between Pūhoi and Warkworth daily, and this number is expected to increase to over 31,000 within the next decade, with traffic shared between the new motorway and the existing SH1.

The Pūhoi to Warkworth project is a Public Private Partnership (PPP) between the Government and the Northern Express Group (NX2), a private consortium. PPPs enable large and complex projects to benefit from private sector innovation and funding, ensuring certainty of delivery and better value for money. The NX2 consortium is responsible for financing, designing, building, maintaining, and operating the motorway for up to 25 years, while the motorway itself remains a public asset.

We invite you to watch the final flyover video from June 2023, showcasing the project's completion compared to the very first flyover from September 2017. You can find all flyover videos throughout the project's life on our website.

For more information about the Ara Tūhono - Pūhoi to Warkworth project, you can visit the Waka Kotahi website. If you require assistance with travel planning, please utilize the Journey Planner on the Waka Kotahi website. For any further inquiries, please feel free to contact us at 0800 4 Highways (0800 44 44 49).