Driving safer, quicker and more reliable motorway journeys

Auckland motorway users want reliable, delay-free journeys. The Auckland Motorway Alliance helped deliver this and more, thanks to a focus on innovation and cost-effectiveness.

Auckland’s busy 230km motorway network carries over 8 percent of New Zealand’s entire traffic every day, and is vital in supporting Auckland’s social and economic growth. Traditionally, the maintenance and operation of the network was provided through 60 separate contracts.

In October 2008, the Auckland Motorway Alliance (AMA) was established to bring responsibility for maintenance and operations into one organisation. Consisting of Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency, Beca, Fulton Hogan, WSP New Zealand, Resolve Group Limited and Armitage Group, the AMA focused on safe, innovative, and long-lasting solutions that would improve and maintain the existing network - and keep motorway users moving.

We provided a raft of services to the alliance including; core engineering services, strategic and operational asset management, environmental management, project management for network improvement works, and traffic safety strategy, monitoring and analysis. Plus, we implemented leading asset management practice and a Lean approach to its operation.

Thanks to this, although the AMA team stayed the same size, it was able to take on an increasingly longer and more sophisticated motorway. The AMA’s work meant that the Transport Agency got a network that works well and lasts, while motorway users get more reliable journey times with less delays.

A great example of one of our innovative solutions is our bridge strike strategy. It reduces strikes on bridges from over-height loads thanks to a simple, A4-size measuring device. There’s been a 75 percent reduction in strikes since its launch, meaning a huge reduction in travel delays for motorway users.

After the AMA ended on 30 June 2019, we have continued to support ongoing maintenance of the network and safer, more reliable motorway journeys, as part of the new nine-year Auckland System Management (ASM) alliance.

Awards

• Roading New Zealand Excellence Awards - Supreme Award & Best Practice Award for Asset Management, 2012
• Alliancing Association Australasia – Long Term Alliancing Team of Excellence Award, 2012
• Hirepool Construction Excellence Awards – Excellence in the maintenance and management of assets, 2016 
• 3M Traffic Safety Innovation Award / IPENZ Transportation Group Conference, 2017 
• Traffic Safety Innovation Award / Engineering NZ Transportation Group Conference, 2018