The NZ Transport Agency is advising Auckland and Northland motorists to plan ahead to stay safe and avoid potential delays this long Anzac weekend.
With thousands of people expected to attend Dawn Services for 100-year commemorations on Saturday morning, drivers are being reminded to plan ahead and allow plenty of time to get to your chosen event.
“There’ll be more traffic on the road than there usually is this early in the morning,” says the Transport Agency’s Highway Manager Brett Gliddon. “We want everyone to get to Dawn Services safely, so don’t leave things until the last minute and allow plenty of time for your journey.”
“Some roads around Parade routes will be closed and this could affect your travel route. People should check ahead and also consider using public transport to avoid the higher traffic volumes.” You get free email alerts on a specific route by signing up to www.onthemove.govt.nz(external link) or information on Auckland roads and public transport at www.at.govt.nz(external link)
The Transport Agency is also reminding holidaymakers that heavy traffic is also expected as people make the most of the long weekend.
“We can expect congestion as people head out of Auckland and return again on Monday, particularly on The Northern Gateway Toll Road (SH1),” says Brett Gliddon.
Mr Gliddon says drivers heading north are encouraged to pre-pay their Northern Gateway toll online – www.tollroad.govt.nz(external link) – before they leave on their journey. This avoids having to stop to pay the toll and there are no bills to remember when you get back home.
Another potential impact on weekend motorists are significant lane restrictions for the duration of Anzac weekend on the Te Atatu interchange around Auckland’s Northwestern Motorway (State Highway 16).
The closures are necessary to raise the third and final bridge of the Te Atatu Road interchange which will improve safety by increasing the clearance for motorway traffic underneath.
“Although traffic volumes will be lower due to the long weekend there are still likely to be significant delays,” says Mr Gliddon. “We really appreciated people’s understanding and support during the recent Easter works and previous bridge jackings and we are asking for motorists to bear with us again by staying off the roads, using alternative routes, or allowing plenty of time to get through the interchange, this will help us complete the work as quickly as possible.”
The lane closures will be from 10pm Fri 24 Apr to 5am Tues 28 Apr and are as follows:
From 10pm to 5am each night, the right turn from the westbound exit to Te Atatu Peninsula will be closed. This closure will be lifted at 4am on Sat 25 Apr for ANZAC services.
The Northwestern motorway and cycleway will remain open throughout the works.
The Te Atatu interchange 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 the first half of 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)
