Changes at Auckland’s St Lukes westbound interchange

Drivers are advised of temporary changes at the St Lukes interchange on Auckland’s Northwestern Motorway (State Highway 16) as work to complete the Western Ring Route gathers pace.

From Sunday (20 July) to next Thursday (24 July), NZ Transport Agency contractors will realign the right turn lane from St Lukes Road to the westbound on-ramp of the motorway. The existing traffic island and some vegetation will be removed to give the workers safe access to the southern end of the St Lukes Road overbridge to build a retaining wall.

To minimise disruption, the work will take place between 9pm and 5am when traffic volumes are lightest. A detour will be in place, and the Transport Agency says people can avoid any delays by using alternative routes. Pedestrians are also advised to take extra care with the new layout as these changes affect them too.

The $70m St Lukes Road upgrade project is jointly funded by the NZ Transport Agency and Auckland Transport and is being delivered by Leighton Contractors.

A two kilometre-long section of the Northwestern Motorway is being widened from three to four lanes in each direction. There will also be improvements to the motorway ramps and the St Lukes Road - Great North Road intersection, while the St Lukes Road overbridge spanning the motorway will be widened to benefit drivers, walkers and cyclists.

Work began in June, and is due to be completed by late 2016.

“The St Lukes upgrade is part of our programme to get our network ready for the increased volume of traffic when the Waterview tunnels connecting the Northwestern and Southwestern motorways are completed in early 2017,” says the Transport Agency’s Acting Highways Manager, Steve Mutton.

It is the last of six projects to connect the Northwestern and Southwestern (SH20) motorways.

The other Western Ring Route projects are the upgrade of the Maioro Street interchanges (SH20), which is completed, and the upgrade of the Lincoln and Te Atatu interchanges, the Causeway Upgrade Project, and the Waterview Connection, which are all under construction.

Drivers are reminded that reduced speed limits of 80kph are in place for extended distances along SH16. That is the safest maximum speed with the narrowed lanes of the motorway while the works are taking place and is being enforced by police.

The Western Ring Route is a Road of National Significance and will provide a 47km-long alternative to SH1 between Albany and Manukau. It will improve safety and city and regional transport connections for people and freight.

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