Work on the Southern Corridor Improvements project, which is creating extra lanes to ease bottlenecks on SH1 Auckland, is now well underway and motorists will begin to see changes that may affect their journey from next week.
The NZ Transport Agency says lane widths are being slightly reduced from 3.5 m to 3.25m between Alfriston Road and the Takanini Interchange, and will come into effect from Monday 14 March.
Median barriers will also be installed in the same area. A reduced speed limit of 80kph is also being introduced to help keep motorists and workers safe throughout the construction area.
The narrower lanes and barriers will be in place for approximately a year to create a safe work zone in the centre of the motorway.
“By reducing the lane widths and creating a safe zone we will be able to work throughout the day which means we can complete the construction earlier than if we only work at night,” says Paul Glucina, the Transport Agency’s Acting Auckland Highway Manager. “This means less disruption to motorists and to nearby residents in the long term.”
There will be sign posted detours during night closures.
Further lane narrowing and median barriers will be introduced on the northbound lanes in March. And the work zone will be extended from Takanini to Papakura in April this year.
The $268 million project being delivered by the NZ Transport Agency on behalf of the Government is expected to be completed in 2018. It extends from Manukau to Papakura along State Highway 1 and will improve safety and journey reliability on Auckland’s Southern Motorway. Extra southbound lanes will be completed in early 2017 as part of the Western Ring route construction.
Walking and cycling improvements will also form a key part of the improvements project. A new 4.5km off road, 3m wide shared-use pedestrian and cycleway is proposed to run along the corridor from Papakura to Great South Road.
The Southern Corridor Improvements Project is the second of four Government accelerated transport projects in the Auckland region which supports current investment in the Western Ring Route and the regional connections south of Auckland.
“The Southern Corridor is a key route connecting Auckland to the rest of the country. The extra lanes will help ease bottlenecks and provide more consistent journey times through this route, while the upgrade to the Takanini Interchange will improved safety for motorists, freight, pedestrians and cyclists,” says Paul Glucina.
More information on the Southern Corridor Improvements project.
