A black Jeep SUV was the lucky first car to drive over the new 600m flyover set to make East Aucklanders daily journeys easier. 

Delivered five months ahead of schedule and more than $4m under budget, Rā Hihi – flyover, also known locally as the Reeves Road flyover, directly links Pakūranga Road to Pakūranga Highway in East Auckland.

The flyover is now open to citybound traffic. It will open in both directions later in October following the completion of intersection work on Pakūranga Road.

Rā Hihi, a name gifted by mana whenua and meaning ‘sun’s rays’,is a critical part of the Eastern Busway project, which is connecting East Auckland with rapid public transport to the wider region.

“Seeing the first car drive across Rā Hihi is a powerful moment,” Auckland Transport Group Manager Rail and Rapid Transit Infrastructure Jane Small says. 

“People can now enjoy the benefits after their patience through planning and construction. From today, Rā Hihi is more than an engineering achievement – it’s an important connection that makes daily journeys easier, safer, and more reliable for Aucklanders.

“Not only does the flyover benefit drivers, but it also enables better public transport options on the busway being built beneath it.

“It is great to witness the Eastern Busway taking shape and delivering benefits step by step. Rā Hihi allows the Eastern Busway to be extended from Pakūranga to Botany.

“When the City Rail Link opens in 2026, people will be able to use the already open section of the busway from Pakūranga to get to Eden Park, New Lynn and Henderson quickly and conveniently by train and bus.

“When the full busway to Botany opens in 2027, our connected network will make it easy to travel from East Auckland to the city centre without having to bother to drive. The busway will provide a reliable 40-minute trip by bus and train between Botany, Pakūranga, Panmure and Waitematā Station,” Ms Small says.