MEDIA RELEASE

25 December 2012

NZ Transport Agency – Auckland Regional Office

Auckland Harbour Bridge lanes closing for Xmas maintenance

The NZ Transport Agency reminds drivers of possible delays on the Auckland Harbour Bridge when it closes two north-bound lanes for almost two weeks from tonight (Christmas Day) for annual maintenance work.

The northbound box girder (clip-on) will be closed so that sections of its two lanes can be re-surfaced. The Curran Street on-ramp, which feeds north-bound traffic onto the clip-on, and the Stafford Street off-ramp on the North Shore will also be closed.

Six other traffic lanes on the harbour bridge will remain open during the maintenance work, three in each direction.

The NZTA’s acting State Highways Manager for Auckland and Northland, Steve Mutton, says everything will be done to keep traffic flowing as smoothly as possible, but drivers using the harbour bridge should leave extra time for their travel to avoid possible delays.

“The start of the Christmas sales and the big build up of traffic as people leave Auckland for holiday destinations combine to make Boxing Day one of the busiest days of the year on the city’s motorways.”

Mr Mutton says the NZTA takes advantage of warm temperatures, long hours of daylight and a general slow-down in the city’s business activity at Christmas/New Year to re-surface the lanes.

“The bridge is Auckland’s most critical transport link and the re-surfacing work is part of the on-going maintenance work we undertake every day of the year to ensure it remains in a first class and safe condition for the tens of thousands of Aucklanders who rely on it every day,” Mr Mutton says.

With the associated closure of the Curran Street on-ramp, the NZTA is encouraging people in central Auckland to join the State Highway 1 motorway north at either Fanshawe Street or Wellington Street.

The NZTA plans to have the resurfacing completed by Sunday, 6 January, weather permitting. .

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