Both west bound and the east city bounds lanes on Auckland's Northwestern Motorway (State Highway 16) have been re-opened to traffic ahead of schedule by the NZ Transport Agency this morning after the successful demolition of a bridge at the Lincoln Road interchange.
West bound lanes were re-opened at 8.30 and those going east towards the central city just after 10.30 when the last of the rubble from the demolished bridge was cleared and the NZTA was satisfied the highway was safe for drivers.
"It's a great result to get the motorway operating again for our customers before the midday deadline we set ourselves," says the NZTA's acting State Highways Manager for Auckland and Northland, Steve Mutton. "We were determined to keep any disruption to a minimum and our contractors have worked very hard over the past couple of days to enable us do that. The NZTA wants to thank drivers too - their care and patience this weekend has also contributed to the early opening."
A large section of the Northwestern Motorway was closed on Friday night to enable the NZTA’s contractors to demolish the old two-lane Selwood Bridge over the motorway. It was demolished as part of a $100m upgrade of the Lincoln Road interchange. The upgrade is part of a series of projects linked to the completition of the Western Ring Route road of n ational significance – a motorway alternative to SH1 through central Auckland that will help meet Government objectives of improving New Zealand’s economic prosperity.
One of the last of the NZTA's summer programme of works in Auckland will occur during Auckland Anniversary Weekend at the end of the month when the northbound lanes of the Southern Motorway (SH1) at Newmarket will be closed for 36 hours so that traffic can be diverted on to the new northbound Newmarket Viaduct.
For more information, visit www.nzta.govt.nz/aklsummerseason(external link)
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