Waka Kotahi’s Auckland System Management (ASM) alliance is teaming up with the Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway project team to co-ordinate a traffic switch near the Johnstone Hill Tunnels with a scheduled overnight motorway maintenance closure. The ASM looks after the maintenance of the Auckland State Highway network.
Ara Tūhono – Pūhoi to Warkworth project
The change in road layout for the Pūhoi to Warkworth project will see the Hibiscus Coast Highway (HCH) northbound traffic merge onto a small section of the new motorway north of the Johnstone Hill Tunnel. Motorists will then travel across a small section of the new motorway and exit at the new Pūhoi off-ramp onto Pūhoi Road, before connecting back onto State Highway 1 (SH1).
A detour will be in place during the closure, using the Hibiscus Coast Highway (previously known as SH17) between the Silverdale interchange and Pūhoi. The detour is expected to add approximately 15 minutes to journeys, and drivers are encouraged to plan ahead and allow extra time.
The essential maintenance work along SH1 northbound between Silverdale and Pūhoi will be carried out between 9pm on Sunday 22 May and 5am Monday 23 May, with work on the southbound lanes from Pūhoi to Silverdale planned between 9pm on Monday 23 May and 5am on Tuesday 24 May. The regularly scheduled motorway maintenance work will include upgrading tolling equipment and other essential work. Contractors cutting into the road will mean increased noise levels, and the toll road and tunnels will be unavailable to drives while the work is carried out.
“Both of these jobs require overnight lane closures for the work to be carried out safely, and by working in partnership we can keep inconvenience and disruption for motorists to a minimum,” says Waka Kotahi Transport Services Portfolio Manager Mark McKenzie.
“The traffic switch is a milestone for the Pūhoi to Warkworth project. It brings us a step closer to providing people who travel through the area a safer, more reliable and resilient route, as we work to have the new road fully open to traffic next year.”
Motorists are asked to drive with extra care through the small section of the Pūhoi to Warkworth site, while people adjust to the new road layout. Temporary speed limits will be in place on the new road to protect road workers and ensure the safety of everyone travelling through the area.
The maintenance work and traffic switch are weather dependent and may be postponed at short notice. People are encouraged to visit the Waka Kotahi social media pages and our Journey Planner website if they are planning to travel.
