The new pedestrian bridge over the Southern Motorway near Papakura continues to take shape, with a second section installed over the northbound motorway lanes last night.
A third section will be lifted into place over the southbound lanes tonight, weather permitting. The motorway will be closed from 10pm until 5am between Papakura and Takanini Interchanges, with detours in place.
More than 80,000 vehicles travel on this part of SH1 every day and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Senior Manager Project Delivery, Andrew Thackwray, says it’s critical that motorists not get distracted by the new bridge and work activity at Pescara Point.
“You can’t help but see the new bridge and everyone will want to check it out, but please remember you can’t be looking at the bridge and watching where you are going at the same time.”
“Please keep your eyes on the road, watch the vehicle in front and watch your following distance. The vehicle in front may slow without warning.”
“Slow down and take care through the work site, especially during the busy morning and afternoon peak travel times.”
Section 2 of the pedestrian bridge over the northbound lanes on the Southern Motorway. Section 3 will be installed tonight over the southbound lanes.
The bridge is being installed in four sections but the finished bridge will have three spans, supported by two black piers which are already in place. The two sections over the motorway lanes are both 22.5 metres long. They will be supported by a temporary pier in the centre of the motorway and be welded together, creating a single span 45m long.
The finished bridge will be 106.5 m long and 3.1m wide. It will have at least 6.2m clearance above the motorway traffic lanes.
It will link via a loop ramp into a new 4.5km shared use path for pedestrians and cyclists being formed on the western side of the motorway between the Papakura and Takanini interchanges. On both sides of the motorway, the bridge will connect to existing coastal paths beside the Manukau Harbour and Pahurehure Inlet, and also to local roadside footpaths.
After the bridge spans have been installed, the bridge will remain closed while extensive welding and finishing work is completed.
The Southern Corridor Improvements project extends from Manukau to Papakura and includes additional lanes in both directions, an upgraded Takanini Interchange, a new shared use path alongside SH1 and this prominent bridge at Pescara Point.
The project remains on track to open all additional motorway lanes by late-2019. Works on Great South Road at the Takanini Interchange and on the shared use path will continue into early 2020.
For more information visit: www.nzta.govt.nz/southern-corridor-improvements or call the project freephone number of 0508 NZTA SCI (0508 6982 724).
A 22.5 metre section of the pedestrian bridge at Pescara Point on the Southern Motorway is lifted into position over the northbound lanes.
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