Next steps for critical flood works in Māngere central

Work is progressing on the Te Ararata Creek Flood Resilience Projectin Māngere, one of the first projects to begin construction as part of Auckland Council's Making Space for Water programme. This project, co-funded by central government, will significantly reduce flood risk in Māngere and strengthen the stormwater network against future storms.

A key step in getting this work done will be the temporary closure of the section of Walmsley Road next to the McKenzie Road intersection, so that it can be rebuilt as a larger bridge to reduce flood risk for local homes.

Why a new bridge needs to be built

In the severe storms of 2023, many locals in the surrounding neighbourhood saw floodwaters rise to chest height, forcing rescues and displacing whānau. The existing bridge over Te Ararata Creek, with its small pipes and restricted waterflow, simply cannot cope when rainfall of this scale hits.

Project Manager Leighton Gillespiesays that's why a full replacement is essential.

"If those pipes block completely, the water has nowhere to go - it could impact around 1000 homes. By widening the bridge and opening up the channel, we can let the water flow safely away and reduce that risk significantly." The existing 2.5m wide twin pipes under the road will be expanded to an 18m wide cross-section to allow more water to pass through and reduce blockage risks. The new design will also add an extra traffic lane which will help ease congestion at the busy Walmsley and McKenzie road intersection.

Road closure needed to get the job done quickly

To complete the works in the shortest possible time, Walmsley Road will be closed to vehicles between Hall Avenue and McKenzie Road from 4 October 2025 to late March 2026. Detours will be in place, and some bus routes will change, while a temporary bailey bridge has been built for people walking and cycling.

Gillespie says closing the road was not an easy decision, but it was the best option.

"We looked hard at keeping part of the road open or building a temporary bridge. The problem is those options would have meant two years of disruption, much higher costs, and the risk of losing funding. By closing the road, we can get it done quickly and safely."

Protecting critical services

In order to prepare for construction of the new bridge , the project team has been working to secure essential underground services. Gillespie explains this is a vital step.

"There's a major water main running through here that supplies Māngere, the airport and Middlemore Hospital. Making sure this, and other key assets, stayed safe has been one of our first jobs before we could start the heavy work."

Stabilising work has required piles to be driven into the ground up to 25 meters deep to reach reasonably solid earth.

Prepararing to replace the bridge over the Te Ararata stream

Strong community support

The project has benefited from strong community backing in Māngere, including a stakeholder group made up of local community members who are helping to share feedback and keep residents informed.

"The support from the Māngere community has been fantastic," says Gillespie. "It's helped us move faster and deliver this project in record time. That means less disruption overall and, most importantly, it means people are safer sooner."

Temporary traffic measures in place

While the SH20 on- and off-ramps further along Walmsley Road will stay open, the section of road around the bridge works will be closed, with traffic detours in place for all vehicles.

"With the road being a key route not only for locals, but also for commercial freight, distribution trucks and airport traffic, we're putting a lot of measures in place," says Gillespie. "Ensuring safety along the diversion routes is essential, so there will be traffic calming measures, CCTV cameras, and even drone monitoring."

Temporary traffic management will be in place on Hall Avenue, Eldon Street and Bader Drive to keep vehicles moving safely. These measures include traffic lights, speed cushions, temporary roundabouts, no on-road parking, reduced speed limits, and a temporary pedestrian and cycle bridge on Walmsley Road.

Find out more - visit our team

You can talk to the project team at Māngere Town Centre:

• Thursday 27 September, 11am-12pm

• Saturday 29 September, 9.:30am-1.:30pm

More details are available on the project page at aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/te-ararata-creek. You can also email [email protected].

The community stakeholder group continues to meet regularly to make sure local voices are heard and to keep residents updated as the project progresses.

Flood resilience projects underway in Māngere