ACCIONA has marked a major milestone on Auckland's Eastern Busway, with more than one million vehicles using the 600m Rā Hihi flyover during its first year of operation.

Community benefits across East Auckland

Andy Baker, Chair of Auckland Council's Transport and Infrastructure Delivery Committee, noted the community benefits already evident across East Auckland.

"The flyover is giving time back to people in their lives, time not now spent in long queues of traffic," Mr Baker said.

"There's still work to be done65, but the positive impact on the local economy, productivity and family time is already clear."

Strong demand and more predictable journeys

The first-year usage figure confirms strong demand for the new connection and its role in smoothing peak movements across the corridor.

Early monitoring indicates improved travel times on key routes using Rā Hihi and along Pakūranga Road, providing more predictable journeys for commuters and freight.

Delivered ahead of schedule and under budget

Delivered five months ahead of schedule and more than $4 million under budget, by ACCIONA, in alliance with Auckland Transport, Fletcher Construction, AECOM and Jacobs, the flyover demonstrates efficient project delivery that accelerates public benefits.

Value for ratepayers has been realised sooner, with reduced congestion translating to time savings that support local businesses and everyday travel.

Laying foundations for the next phase of the Eastern Busway

The flyover's design also creates vital space beneath the structure for the Eastern Busway extension between Pakūranga and Botany.

This staging keeps construction moving while maintaining traffic flow, helping the region transition to a larger integrated network.

Once complete, the Eastern Busway will link Panmure and Botany via seven kilometres of dedicated busway and 15km of walking and cycling paths.

• Seven kilometres of dedicated busway linking Panmure and Botany
• 15km of walking and cycling paths
• Around 18,000 bus passenger trips expected each day by 2028

The network is expected to support around 18,000 bus passenger trips each day by 2028, strengthening public transport capacity and offering reliable alternatives to private vehicle use.

With more than one million vehicle movements already recorded, Rā Hihi is easing congestion today while laying foundations for the next phase of the Eastern Busway.

The milestone signals a shift toward a more connected and resilient transport system that better serves East Auckland's growing communities.