Plan for delays on Northwestern at Te Atatu

The NZ Transport Agency says significant lane closures will have a big impact on drivers using a section of Auckland’s Northwestern Motorway (State Highway 16) and the Te Atatu interchange during the weekend of 7 to 10 November.

The closures are necessary to raise the first section of the Te Atatu Road overbridge.   The bridge is made up of three separate structures which will be raised independently in the coming months. 

The weekend lane closures will be as follows:-

• Northwestern Motorway reduced to a single lane each way under the Te Atatu overbridge 5am  to 10pm on Saturday and Sunday 8/9 November
• Northwestern Motorway closed under the Te Atatu overbridge 10pm to 5am for three  nights from Friday 7 November
• Te Atatu Rd reduced to a single lane each way on the Te Atatu overbridge from 10pm Friday 7 November until 5am Monday 10 November  
• Te Atatu citybound loop onramp closed from 10pm Friday 7 November until 5am Monday 10 November  
• Footpaths on the western side of the interchange will be closed and pedestrians will be directed to use the eastern side footpath
• The Northwestern cycleway will remain open during the weekend.

“Due to the lane closures we expect some significant delays,” says the Transport Agency’s  Highway Manager Brett Gliddon. “We’re asking people to help us complete the work as quickly as possible by staying off the roads, using alternative routes, or allowing plenty of time to get through the interchange.”

Mr Gliddon says the Te Atatu overbridge is being raised 600mm (almost 2 feet).  “We are using jacks to slowly raise the bridge and once all three bridge structures are lifted it will improve safety by increasing the clearance for motorway traffic underneath”. 

This work is part of the Te Atatu Interchange Upgrade Project, one of six projects either completed or under construction to link the Northwestern and Southwestern (SH20) motorways providing a motorway alternative to SH1 known as the Western Ring Route.   The project is widening the five existing motorway on-ramps and exits at Te Atatu and improving access for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians.  It is also widening the Northwestern motorway between the Te Atatu interchange and Henderson Creek and is due to be completed in December 2016.

For more information on the Te Atatu Interchange Upgrade Project, visit:-

• Project: www.nzta.govt.nz/network/projects/sh16-te-atatu-road-interchange/(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)

The Transport Agency also reminds drivers using Auckland’s Northern Motorway (SH1) that same weekend, there will be restricted access at the Greville Road interchange because of work there related to the Upper Harbour Highway to Greville Road Northbound 3 Laning project, which will make improvements to both the motorway and local roads. For more information on the Upper Harbour Highway to Greville Road Project, visit: www.nzta.govt.nz/uhh-greville(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