Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is advising of upcoming work this Easter weekend to remove trees overhanging the southbound lanes on State Highway 1 at Johnsonville.
Tree-felling works will take place on the hill above the southbound lanes of State Highway 1 Johnsonville on the mornings of Friday 2 April and Saturday 3 April between 7am and 12pm, weather permitting.
Regional Transport Systems Manager Mark Owen says the work is necessary to ensure safety of road users and the general public, after investigations found several large trees pose a potential danger to state highway traffic due to their age, size and overhang.
“We’re taking action to reduce the risk to people’s safety as soon as possible. Historically, Wellington traffic volumes decrease over Easter weekend as residents head further north for the break, so this is an opportune time to avoid lengthy traffic disruptions,” Mr Owen says.
The highway will be closed to all southbound traffic, between the Johnsonville southbound off-ramp and Newlands southbound on-ramp, on the Friday and Saturday mornings from 7am to 12pm. Southbound traffic will detour through the Johnsonville CBD.
A traffic control team will monitor the northbound lane for any falling debris and will stop and hold northbound traffic when felled trees are lifted out by crane.
“We know some people will be inconvenienced by the closure, but with an easy detour available we expect the impact won’t be significant. Traffic conditions will be monitored throughout the works and traffic management be altered as necessary to avoid the build-up of lengthy queues,” Mr Owen says.
People heading into Wellington for events in the CBD on Saturday are being advised to factor in extra time for their journey.
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