Immediately after the Mt Wellington Highway interchange, the motorway curves south to head towards the Tāmaki River. After crossing the Tāmaki River, the motorway forms a boundary between the suburbs of Papatoetoe to the west and Otara to the east.
Immediately after the Mt Wellington Highway intersection, the motorway curves south and forms a border between the suburbs of Papatoetoe to the west and Otara to the east. After crossing the Tāmaki River, it continues as a dividing line between these two areas.