17 September 2014 | NZ Transport Agency - Auckland

WEEKEND CLOSURES ON AUCKLAND’S SH16

The NZ Transport Agency says significant closures will have a big impact on drivers using a section of Auckland’s Northwestern motorway citybound (State Highway 16) and the Great North Road interchange during the weekend of 27/28 September.

The Transport Agency will close all three citybound lanes of the motorway for 16 hours between Te Atatu Road and Rosebank Road including the Lincoln Road citybound on-ramp. The closure will start at 5pm on Saturday 27 September and will remain in place until 9am on Sunday 28 September.

Signposted detour routes will be through busy local roads, and the Transport Agency is asking drivers to avoid the area and take alternative routes or leave the car at home and use public transport.

The Great North Road citybound off-ramp will be closed for 48 hours from 5am on Saturday 27 September until 5am on Monday 29 September. Drivers are advised to use the Patiki Road off-ramp to reduce queuing at the St Lukes off-ramp.

“The support of drivers will help keep congestion at a minimum and allow us to complete essential work at both locations successfully and as quickly as possible,” says the Transport Agency’s State Highway Manager, Brett Gliddon.

The three citybound motorway lanes have to be closed to connect the existing Whau River bridge to the new bridge which has been constructed on the northern side.

“This bridge “stitch” involves pouring concrete to connect the two structures,” Mr Gliddon says. “The concrete takes approximately 12 hours to gain sufficient strength and as vibrations from passing traffic will impact on the hardening process all citybound lanes need to be closed.”

The Great North Road citybound off-ramp is being closed during the same weekend so that workers can safely move the off-ramp to a new alignment.

“These closures are a necessary step to complete the Northwestern upgrade and we really appreciate drivers’ patience while we get these jobs done as quickly and safely as possible”, Mr Gliddon adds.

The Causeway Alliance is raising and widening 4.8km of SH16, from Great North Road to the Whau River bridge just before Te Atatu. The Causeway Upgrade is 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.

All westbound lanes on SH16 and the Northwestern cycleway will remain open throughout the weekend.

ENDS

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