Work is progressing well on the demolition of the old Rimu Road bridge over the Southwestern Motorway (SH20) as part of the Manukau Harbour Crossing project. The NZ Transport Agency has been working overnight for the past three nights and all motorway lanes underneath the Rimu Road overbridge will be closed again tonight (Wednesday 10) and tomorrow night (Thursday 11 December) to complete the demolition.
Work is progressing well on the demolition of the old Rimu Road bridge over the Southwestern Motorway (SH20) as part of the Manukau Harbour Crossing project. The NZ Transport Agency has been working overnight for the past three nights and all motorway lanes underneath the Rimu Road overbridge will be closed again tonight (Wednesday 10) and tomorrow night (Thursday 11 December) to complete the demolition.
“We have 8 of the 11 beams left to lift off the bridge by a crane. We then need to dismantle the columns that supported the beams – another job that can only be done while the motorway is closed,” explains NZTA acting regional manager Tommy Parker.
Closures will take place each night from 9pm and the motorway will reopen again at 5am the following morning. If the work is postponed due to wet weather, closures will take place on Sunday 14 and Monday 15 December. The closures include the two kilometre stretch of motorway travelling southbound between Mahunga Drive off-ramp and Walmsley Road on-ramp, and northbound between Coronation Road off-ramp and Rimu Road on-ramp.
Delays are possible so motorists are advised to leave an extra 30 minutes for their journey, especially when travelling to Auckland International Airport. Advance warning signs will be in place to give early notice of the closure and motorists can listen to radio traffic reports for updates.
Motorists are advised to follow the signposted detours via Mahunga Drive for southbound traffic and via Coronation Road for northbound traffic. Large vehicles and trucks should travel via Wallace and Church Roads to avoid damaging trees in Mangere Bridge village.
The new Rimu Road overbridge is scheduled to be completed by mid 2009. It will feature cycle lanes in both directions, a widened footpath for pedestrians and barriers to improve safety. The road layout will revert to one eastbound and two westbound lanes - one for traffic turning onto the motorway and the other for traffic going to Mangere Bridge village.
The NZ Transport Agency thanks motorists for their patience and co-operation while construction takes place.
For more information on the SH20 Manukau Harbour Crossing project, phone 0800 SH20 MHX (0800 7420 649) or visit www.nzta.govt.nz/manukaucrossing(external link)
