Construction at two busy sections of Auckland’s motorway network – the Te Atatu interchange on the Northwestern and the Greville Road interchange on the Northern - will cause significant disruption this weekend (7-10 November) and people face long delays if they want to drive through either work site.
“We are expecting congestion to be severe at both locations and we’re asking people to help us by avoiding them if they can. Detour routes will be busy too, but they will allow motorist to avoid very slow moving queues of traffic where we are working,” says the NZ Transport Agency’s Highway Manager, Brett Gliddon.
At Te Atatu, there will be significant lane closures on the motorway and restricted access at the Te Atatu Interchange, so that the first section of the Te Atatu Road overbridge can be raised. At Greville Road, the interchange is being upgraded and converted to one controlled by traffic signals.
Mr Gliddon says that peak weekend traffic volumes at Te Atatu are around 1,700 vehicles per hour using the overbridge to and from Te Atatu Peninsula and about 4,500 per hour using the motorway underneath.
“It’s not possible to handle that volume of traffic during this weekend - there will significant delays. People can help us complete the work at Te Atatu as quickly as possible by staying off the roads, or using alternative routes. If they do have to use the interchange, they must give themselves a lot more time to drive through it – traffic will not be flowing freely.”
Mr Gliddon says the Te Atatu overbridge is being raised 600mm (almost 2 feet) and once all three bridge structures are lifted it will improve safety by increasing the clearance for motorway traffic underneath. This work is part of the Te Atatu Interchange Upgrade Project, one of six projects either completed or underway to link the Northwestern and Southwestern (SH20) motorways and provide a motorway alternative to SH1 known as the Western Ring Route.
For information about the SH16 Te Atatu Road weekend restrictions click here(external link).
At Greville Road, the weekend work is part Upper Harbour Highway to Greville Road Northbound 3 Laning Project. The closure - the second of two at the interchange - was postponed last month because of the weather and re-scheduled for November.
About 1600 vehicles an hour use the Greville Road off-ramp during the weekend’s busiest period between 10am and 2pm.
“It is important people plan their journeys, especially during the middle of the day when traffic is busiest,” Mr Gliddon says. “We appreciate the great support during the first closure last month and we want that to continue. For our part, we will do everything we can to minimise disruption but the weekend is the only suitable time when this necessary work can be done.”
For more information about the SH1 Greville Road weekend restrictions click here(external link).
Mr Gliddon says the work at Greville Road and at Te Atatu is part of a huge multi-million dollar upgrade of the city’s entire motorway network.
“We need to be ready to help manage Auckland’s rapid growth by making it easier for people and freight to move around – not just in Auckland itself but in our neighbouring regions to the north and south of the city. We do ask that people be patient this weekend and drive with care for their own safety and the safety of our contractors working on site,” says Mr Gliddon.
For more information please contact:
Ewart Barnsley
Auckland/Northland Media Manager
NZ Transport Agency
T: 09 928 8720
M: 027 213 7616
E: ewart.barnsley@nzta.govt.nz
