The NZ Transport Agency is carrying out routine resurfacing work on the Auckland Harbour Bridge over the Christmas holiday period.
The NZ Transport Agency is carrying out routine resurfacing work on the Auckland Harbour Bridge over the Christmas holiday period.
From 5am Sunday 26 December 2010 until Thursday 6 January 2011, the two southbound clip-on lanes of the bridge as well as the Shelly Beach Road off-ramp will be closed. Work will take place to resurface the southbound clip-on lanes. Three lanes in the northbound and southbound direction will stay open throughout the work.
Cook Street southbound off-ramp will also be closed during this time so that work can take place to install a stormwater crossing as part of the SH1 Victoria Park Tunnel project.
NZTA’s State Highways Manager for Auckland and Northland Tommy Parker says the resurfacing has been co-ordinated with vital services work on the tunnel project, to make the most of the lighter traffic flows during the summer holiday period.
“This year we will have two teams working on the resurfacing of the lanes and on installing services at Cook Street. We’re aiming to get all this work done together in the southbound direction to minimise inconvenience to motorists and local residents,” he says.
The Auckland Harbour Bridge is one of the busiest sections of motorway in Auckland, with the average vehicle crossing count at 154,000 and sometimes reaching 200,000 vehicles crossing it everyday. Resurfacing involves removing the existing materials, cleaning the deck plate and then laying a new surface onto the southbound lanes. The work is part of ongoing maintenance work that takes place throughout the year, to look after the harbour bridge and keep it in good condition.
Delays are possible heading into the central city, so people can follow the signposted detour and exit at the Fanshawe Street off-ramp. This will be the only southbound exit to the CBD that is open.
Mr Parker says people should leave extra time for their journeys going into the central city and consider using buses or ferries.
Traffic is expected to flow well in both directions and the bridge should be fully opened before most people return from their Christmas break.
Wet weather or other unforeseen circumstances may postpone the work. For more information, visit www.nzta.govt.nz/ahb(external link) or www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/victoria-park-tunnel(external link) You can contact the VPT project office by calling 0508 VIC PARK (0508 842 7275).
View the Auckland Harbour Bridge lane map (PDF, 106KB).
