The NZ Transport Agency is asking motorists to take extra care when travelling citybound through Ellerslie on the Southern Motorway (SH1) from next week.
As part of the SH1 Ellerslie Widening Project, from Monday 23 March until project completion by mid-2016, orange paint will mark out slightly narrowed citybound lanes from the Ellerslie-Panmure Interchange to just after the Main Highway overbridge. A reduced speed limit of 80kph will also be enforced.
“The slightly narrowed lanes will improve the safety of road users as well as for workers beside the motorway. The new lane markings also allow us to keep all three citybound lanes open for motorists while the work is done,” says the Transport Agency’s Auckland and Northland Highway Manager Brett Gliddon. “When it’s completed the project will provide a fourth lane from the Ellerslie-Panmure Highway on-ramp to just after the Main Highway overbridge and will help ease congestion and create safer journeys for road users.”
A full night time closure of the citybound lanes from Ellerslie-Panmure Interchange to Greenlane is scheduled from 10pm Sunday 22 March until 5am Monday 23 March, when the new lanes will be marked for which a signposted detour will be in place. In the event of bad weather, the work will be postponed to the next fine night.
Individual lane closures will also take place over subsequent nights.
The NZTA thanks motorists in advance for their patience and cooperation while this essential work takes place.
“We remind drivers to keep within the 80kph legal speed limit for everyone’s safety,” says Mr Gliddon.
For more information on the SH1 Ellerslie Widening Project, visit: http://www.nzta.govt.nz/network/projects/sh1-ellerslie-widening-project/(external link)
For more information please contact:
Jan McCarthy
Media Manager - Christchurch
T: 03 964 2885
M: 021 427 442
E: jan.mccarthy@nzta.govt.nz
