The NZ Transport Agency took one of its final steps to complete Auckland’s Western Ring Route with a ceremony today to mark the start of construction to improve the Te Atatu Interchange on the Northwestern Motorway (State Highway 16).
At this morning’s ceremony Government MP Tau Henare, together with Auckland’s Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse, and elders from Te Kawerau a Maki and Ngati Whatua Orakei symbolically turned the project’s first sod of soil.
The Transport Agency’s State Highways Manager for Auckland and Northland, Tommy Parker, says the Te Atatu improvements are another important link in the chain to help improve city and regional transport connections.
“There will be some huge changes when we connect the Northwestern and Southwestern motorways at Waterview, and it’s important that the interchange at Te Atatu is ready to help make traffic smoothly along the Western Ring Route,” says Mr Parker.
Key features of the $50m project include widening the Northwestern motorway between the Te Atatu Road and Patiki Road interchanges, widening all five ramps on the interchange, enhancing existing facilities for walkers and cyclists and widening and raising the Te Atatu Road overbridge.
The Te Atatu Interchange is one of five projects currently that completes the Western Ring Route - one of the Government’s seven roads of national significance to help promote economic growth. Once completed, the 47 kilometre-long Western Ring Route will provide a strategic alternative to SH1, central Auckland and the Auckland Harbour Bridge. There other 4 projects that complete the Western Ring Route are.
Work will start on the improvements at Te Atatu in the new year and is set to be completed in 2016. Fulton Hogan will be delivering the project for the Transport Agency. The infrastructure company is also upgrading the neighbouring Lincoln Road interchange, and is a partner in the alliance raising and widening the Northwestern motorway causeway.
To stay up to date with the progress and to get more information about the projects can be found at: www.nzta.govt.nz/stayconnected(external link)
