Travellers to and from Auckland International Airport and Manukau will have more reliable and safer journey times when a project to widen a section of SH20 is completed mid 2011.
The NZ Transport Agency will be starting the SH20 Walmsley Upgrade Project later this week, and the task will be completed in time for next year’s Rugby World Cup.
The agency is to close the South Western motorway (SH20) from Walmsley Road offramp to Massey Rd (SH20) and Kirkbride Rd (SH20A) on Thursday night between 9pm and 5am, and regular overnight closures of the Southwestern Motorway around Walmsley Road will occur during the project. Motorists are asked to follow the signposted detours and allow extra time for journeys, especially when travelling to the airport, as delays are possible for the next eleven months. The NZ Transport Agency advises motorists to observe temporary speed limits in that section of SH20 southbound whilst works are underway.
Currently, SH20 consists of three southbound lanes from Queenstown Road to Walmsley Road, which then reduces to two lanes south of Walmsley Road. The project involves adding a third motorway lane south of Walmsley Road Overbridge. The three lanes then diverge to two lanes each way to SH20 (towards Manukau) and SH20A (towards Auckland Airport).
“Widening this section of the highway will address capacity and safety concerns on SH20, a critical section of the Western Ring Route,” says the NZTA’s State Highways Manager for Auckland and Northland, Tommy Parker. “The planned improvements will mean safer and more reliable journeys for motorists travelling south to Manukau and to Auckland Airport”.
