The project involved the construction of a 450m cut-and-cover tunnel for three lanes of northbound traffic, reconfiguration of the Victoria Park flyover for four southbound lanes, and widening the motorway through St Mary's Bay by one more lane in each direction. The motorway’s visual impact on the local environment is mitigated by landscaping and by incorporating art into the barriers and retaining walls.

In delivering on these roading objectives the project has achieved significantly better local places and spaces by reconnecting and creating new routes across and along the motorway corridor as a result of the landscape and urban design initiatives.

Urban design initiatives improved the amenity and connectivity of the local area. Among them is a new public plaza in front of the landmark Rob Roy Hotel, the footbridge over the motorway to Westhaven reconnects land and sea in St Marys Bay, and a new walkway through St Marys Bay, protected from the motorway by a transparent noise wall links to the historic Jacobs Ladder.

Additionally, three important heritage structures – the1886 Rob Roy Hotel, the Campbell Free Kindergarten and the Jacobs Ladder Staircase – were protected and restored. A new skatepark was part of the restoration of Victoria Park following the tunnel construction. 

The urban design concepts drew from the landscape, cultural values, history and geology at a broad scale for the VPT route and immediate context. Through consultation with Iwi, Auckland Council, and the Alliance design team, a number of these concept ideas have been brought through to inform the design of motorway features and the surrounding urban landscape.