Leighton Contractors was awarded a contract by Transit New Zealand for the Manukau Motorway Link, a motorway extension project in Auckland designed to reduce congestion across the state highway network. The project was delievered through a Joint venture between Leighton Contractors and Works Infrastructure, a division of Downer EDI; and the design work was undertaken by a group of consultants led by Sinclair Knight Merz and Golder Associates.

The Manukau Motorway Link project involved the design and construction of a new four-lane motorway approximately 5 kilometres long, connecting the existing State Highway 20 (SH20) and State Highway 1 (SH1) motorways south of the Manukau City Centre in Auckland.

The new motorway link was constructed as dual two-lane carriageways, with provision for future widening to dual three-lane carriageways.

Included in the scope of works were three interchanges, four grade separated intersections and three motorway crossings over streams and the main trunk rail corridor. Enabling works for a future rail link to the Manukau City Centre was also part of the project.

• improved access into and around Manukau City
• linked the Auckland International Airport to the northern and western areas of Auckland
• increased vehicle capacity across the Manukau Harbour, and
• improved efficiency and safety on the SH20 motorway.