The NZ Transport Agency reminds drivers of significant closures on Auckland’s Northwestern motorway (State Highway 16) citybound this weekend, 27 to 29 September.
The Transport Agency will close all three citybound lanes of the motorway for 16 hours between Te Atatu Road and Rosebank Road including the Lincoln Road citybound on-ramp. The closure will be from 5pm this Saturday to 9am Sunday.
Signposted detour routes will be through busy local roads and the Transport Agency is asking drivers to avoid the area and take alternative routes or leave their car at home and use public transport.
In addition, the Great North Road citybound exit from SH16 will be closed for 48 hours from 5am this Saturday to 5am Monday. Drivers are advised to use the Patiki Road exit to reduce queuing at the St Lukes exit.
“The support of drivers will help keep congestion to a minimum and allow us to complete this essential work at both locations successfully and as quickly as possible,” says the Transport Agency’s State Highway Manager Brett Gliddon.
The three citybound motorway lanes have to be closed from Saturday evening to connect the existing Whau River bridge to the new bridge which has been constructed on the northern side.
“This is called a bridge ‘stitch’ and involves pouring concrete to connect the two structures. The concrete takes about 12 hours to gain sufficient strength and as vibrations from passing traffic will impact the hardening process all citybound lanes need to be closed,” Mr Gliddon says.
The Great North Road citybound exit is being closed during the same weekend so that workers can safely move the off-ramp to a new alignment.
“These closures are a necessary step to complete the Northwestern upgrade and we really appreciate drivers’ patience while we get the works done as quickly and safely as possible”, Mr Gliddon says.
The Causeway Alliance is raising and widening 4.8km of SH16, from Great North Road to the Whau River bridge just before Te Atatu. The Causeway Upgrade is one of six projects either completed or under construction to link the Northwestern and Southwestern (SH20) motorways, known as the Western Ring Route, providing a motorway alternative to SH1.
All westbound lanes on SH16 and the Northwestern cycleway will remain open throughout the weekend.
For more information on the Causeway Upgrade Project, visit www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/sh16causeway(external link).
Highway information: www.highwayinfo.govt.nz(external link) and freephone 0800 444 449
Get free email alerts on a specific route by signing up to www.onthemove.govt.nz(external link)
Auckland roads and public transport: www.at.govt.nz(external link)
For more information please contact:
Jan McCarthy
Acting Auckland/Northland Media Manager
T: 09 928 8720
M: 021 427 442
jan.mccarthy@nzta.govt.nz
