The NZ Transport Agency is opening Wiri Station Road in Manukau on Saturday 11 December as it enters the final stage of construction, to complete the new SH20-1 Manukau Extension motorway project.
Wiri Station Road has been closed in both directions between Lambie Drive and Davies Avenue near the Manukau City Centre, for seven weeks of intensive work to improve connections in the area.
“We’ve made good progress and made sure that our project team will be well out of the area so that people can access the Westfield Mall during the busy Christmas shopping period without being disrupted,” says the NZTA’s State Highways Manager for Auckland Tommy Parker.
Ramp signals have also been installed and will start operating from Monday 13 December on the SH20-1 southbound lanes of the new motorway, to improve traffic flows and driver safety at the merge of the Southwestern and Southern motorways [State Highways 1 and 20]..
At the western end of the motorway project, work is continuing to construct the third and final part - the connecting road between the Cavendish and Puhinui Interchanges. This involves completely demolishing the old Roscommon Road bridge, building a major sewer line and a new westbound on-ramp. The Puhinui Stream will also be diverted and hundreds of native fish will be relocated to the new section of the stream.
Mr Parker says the connecting road will provide a direct link to Auckland International Airport and will be open on Wednesday 5 January 2011 (weather permitting).
“Motorists will be able to travel on the new motorway without stopping, from the Southern Motorway all the way to Puhinui Road (SH20B) and the airport. This will reduce commuting times for the 12,000 workers who travel to the airport daily,” he says.
The $220M Manukau Extension motorway connects the Southwestern (SH20) and Southern Motorways (SH1) in Manukau. It is being opened progressively in three stages – with the final stage scheduled to open in January 2011. The motorway forms the southern gateway to the Western Ring Route. When completed, the ring route will provide a new 48 kilometre motorway around Auckland to ease pressure on SH1 and the Auckland Harbour Bridge.
Some minor road works will continue to intersections on Lambie Drive and Great South Road from Wednesday 5 until Monday 10 January 2011.
The NZTA thanks motorists for their patience and co-operation while construction continues.
More information is available at www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/manukauextension(external link) or freephone 0800 SH20-2-1 (0800 742 021).