The NZ Transport Agency has started work alongside a section of Auckland's Southwestern Motorway (State Highway 20) that will provide more information to help drivers plan their journeys.
The Transport Agency is laying 5km of fibre optic cable between Bader Drive and Puhinui Road. Acting Highway Manager, Steve Mutton, says the project extends the electronic footprint used to collect and provide traffic information on Auckland’s motorways.
“It’s our commitment to provide as much information as possible so that drivers can make informed decisions about their travel,” Mr Mutton says.
The cable will carry data for five new closed circuit tv cameras that will monitor this section of the Southwestern Motorway, a new variable message sign to advise people of driving conditions ahead, and three electronic journey time signs to be installed along Massey Road in Mangere before people join the motorway.
“These new additions to the network will mean that the Transport Agency will be able to provide drivers with more accurate information, and respond more quickly to motorway incidents,” says Mr Mutton.
The fibre optic cable sends electronic data to the Joint Transport Operations Centre run by the Transport Agency and Auckland Transport at Takapuna, which is responsible for the management of the motorway network and key arterial roads in the city.
Mr Mutton says all work will be carried out on the motorway shoulder to minimise any impact on drivers. There will, however, be one overnight closure to install the gantry for the variable message sign over the motorway. The work will take 12 weeks.
