- Hon Chris Bishop
- Hon Simon Watts
The completion of a new pedestrian bridge at Te Mahia Station to the southeast of Manurewa is another major step towards replacing rail level crossings, improving safety, and unlocking the full benefits of the City Rail Link, says Transport Minister Chris Bishop and Auckland Minister Simon Watts.
The new pedestrian bridge at Te Mahia replaces the previous rail crossing and provides safer access to the station and local communities on either side of the rail corridor. It will open on 24 August following final safety checks and approvals.
Te Mahia is the second of three pedestrian bridges being delivered to replace rail crossings in Glen Innes and Takanini ahead of the City Rail Link opening. The bridge at Glen Innes Station opened in July and the bridge at Takanini Station will open on 12 September.
“Replacing rail crossings is critical to unlocking the full benefits of the City Rail Link by allowing more frequent trains, improving safety, and reducing delays for road users, train passengers and pedestrians,” Mr Bishop says.
“This is the second new pedestrian bridge to open in a month which highlights the strong progress that is being made across Auckland to improve the rail network.
“There have been dozens of near misses at the existing level crossing at Te Mahia. Pedestrians will soon be able to access the station from either side of the rail corridor via stairs, lifts, and bridges, improving safety and accessibility for everyone while at the same time keeping traffic moving.”
Construction for the three pedestrian bridges began in September 2025 after the Government and Auckland Council brought forward funding to accelerate the rail crossing replacement work.
“As part of the wider package of rail crossing replacements for the Southern Line, three road bridges are also being prioritised. Detailed design and planning for construction is underway, with main works due to begin in the second half of 2027.
“On the Western Line, essential planning work is also underway to decide how to replace or remove up to 21 level crossings to unlock the full benefits from the City Rail Link and allow more trains in the future.”
Auckland Minister Simon Watts says, the Government and Auckland Council brought funding forward so this work could get underway sooner, and it’s great to see another crucial project completed.
“So far sixteen rail level crossings have been closed or replaced over the past decade, and further work is underway. Each project is another step towards a safer and more efficient transport network for Aucklanders.
“I would like to thank Rima Nakhle, MP for Takanini for her advocacy for this project.
“As Auckland grows, we need infrastructure that supports both safety and reliability. These upgrades are helping prepare the network for the City Rail Link while ensuring people can move around the city with greater confidence and fewer disruptions.”
Notes to editor:
- In February 2025, the Government and Auckland Council each confirmed $200 million in funding for the first three years of work. The NZTA Board approved funding in April 2025. It is anticipated that the remainder of the cost will be allocated through the National Land Transport Programme 2027-2030.
- Te Mahia Station bridge cost $22 million, and Takanini Station bridge cost $26 million. These bridges cost more than the Glen Innes station bridge due to additional work required, including platform rebuilds, additional bridge spans to access both sides of the platform, and increased strength of lift shaft structures due to proximity to rail.
- An estimated 200 construction workers were employed on the pedestrian bridge projects in 2025 and 2026, with a similar number of construction jobs expected in the coming years when road bridges are being built.
