The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has approved NZ$53m ($38.75m) of funding to upgrade a section of Auckland’s State Highway 16 (SH16) between Brigham Creek and Waimauku.

The upgrade works form part of the government’s NZ$600m ($438.64m) Safe Roads programme.

The scope of work includes building a new roundabout, extra lanes and safety barriers to prevent head-on crashes, as well as create additional space for pedestrians and cyclists.

NZTA system design manager Brett Gliddon said that the improvements will help to increase safety on the route and prevent accidents.

Gliddon said: “Improvements will include extra lanes between Brigham Creek and Taupaki roundabout to help with travel times, a flush median to give drivers more room and a safe place to turn, and a roundabout at the SH16 / Coatesville Riverhead Highway intersection to help traffic flow.”

“Improvements will include extra lanes between Brigham Creek and Taupaki roundabout to help with travel times.”

The upgrade works will also coordinate with projects in the Kumeu, Huapai and Waimauku urban centres along SH16 to ensure consistent standards.

Along the route, flexible road safety barriers will be installed to reduce road deaths by nearly 70% to 80%.

Gliddon added that the concerned team is expected to finalise the design and start construction works later this year.

The project is planned to be completed in stages over three years.

Construction works will start with the section between Huapai and Waimauku and are expected to take more than 12 months.

In the next stage, scheduled to start from February next year, the Brigham Creek to Kumeu section will be upgraded and is expected to be completed in February 2021.