with the official sod-turning. The motorway will run west of the current SH 1 alignment, starting at the end of the existing Auckland Northern Motorway and terminating onto the existing highway at Kaipara Flats Road, north of Warkworth township. The new motorway is expected to open in May 2022. The NZTA released its preferred alignment for the Warkworth to Wellsford section for consultation in February 2017. The motorway will run from the Puhoi to Warkworth section west of Warkworth northward, passing east of Wellsford and Te Hana to terminate onto the existing highway at Mangawhai Road, just short of the Auckland/Northland boundary. Many ideas have come forth to create a Second Harbour Crossing over Waitematā Harbour to complement the aging Auckland Harbour Bridge. These include ideas for a second bridge, or a second tunnel with capacity for rail. At this stage, any meaningful progress is unlikely until at least 2025. Waikato Expressway As of October 2017, the NZTA is investigating extending the Waikato Expressway south of Cambridge to the SH 1/SH 29 intersection at Piarere, bypassing the existing highway around the shores of Lake Karapiro. Levin to Wellington Airport In February 2018, NZTA began investigation into extending the Kapiti Expressway further northward approximately to just north of Levin, bypassing Levin and the villages of Ohau and Manakau. In December 2018, the NZTA selected the road's preferred corridor, bypassing Levin to the east alongside part of SH 57. Funding was approved by the government in January 2020. Many inner city Wellington projects are also planned for SH 1 including duplication of the Terrace Tunnel and Mt Victoria tunnels. However these projects look uncertain as another planned project, the Basin Reserve Flyover failed to obtain the necessary resource consents and an appeal was rejected in the High Court. Canterbury NZTA are investigating extending the Christchurch Northern Motorway so that it bypasses the town of Woodend. Other improvements Several smaller projects are being undertaken to improve sections of SH 1. These include: Widening the Southern Motorway between Papakura and Drury South from four to six lanes. In June 2021 it was announced that funding for this project would be indefinitely deferred. Widening the Waimakariri River bridges on the Christchurch Northern Motorway from four to six lanes. Raising the highway and installing culverts in flood-prone areas between Oamaru and the Kakanui River bridge. Major junctions North Island (SH 1N) South Island (SH 1S) See