The NZ Transport Agency thanks drivers for their support while travelling on Auckland’s Northwestern Motorway (State Highway 16) citybound last weekend 27 – 29 September.
All three citybound lanes were closed for 14 hours on Saturday night between Te Atatu and Rosebank Roads to connect the existing Whau River bridge to the new bridge section beside it. In addition, the Great North Road citybound exit was closed for 36 hours so the off-ramp could be moved to a new alignment.
“We were able to complete both the bridge stitch and the off-ramp re-alignment ahead of schedule and the cooperation of drivers helped to make this possible” says the Transport Agency’s State Highway Manager for Auckland and Northland, Brett Gliddon. “There was some initial traffic congestion when the citybound lanes were closed and once the early evening rush had passed, traffic flowed smoothly.”
For the Whau River bridge stitch, 12 truckloads of concrete were placed by three teams of workers to ensure the 180m long concrete “stitch” was completed and allowed to set.
The Great North Road exit was open almost 12 hours ahead of schedule due to better than forecast weather conditions.
Drivers taking the Great North Road citybound exit are encouraged to take extra care while adjusting to the new layout.
Mr Gliddon says last weekend’s closures are the first in a series which will take place along the Northwestern motorway during the next few months.
“We ask that drivers plan their journeys carefully, look out for the advertised closure information and avoid travelling during the closures if they possibly can, to help keep congestion to a minimum”.
The closures are part of the Northwestern Upgrade which will link the Northwestern and Southwestern (SH20) motorways providing a motorway alternative to SH1 and completing the Western Ruing Route, one of the Government’s seven Roads of national Significance.
The Causeway Alliance (the NZ Transport Agency, Fulton Hogan, Leighton Contractors, AECOM, Coffey and Jacobs) is raising and widening 4.8km of SH16, from Great North Road to the Whau River bridge just before Te Atatu.
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:
Ewart Barnsley
Auckland/Northland Media Manager
NZ Transport Agency
T: 09 928 8720
M: 027 213 7616
E: ewart.barnsley@nzta.govt.nz
