22 March 2013

NZ Transport Agency – Auckland Regional Office

Auckland’s Great North Rd ‘squeeze’ will impact on Easter drivers

The NZ Transport Agency is advising drivers to bypass Great North Road in the Auckland suburb of Waterview over the Easter Weekend to avoid the risk of significant delays.

While the key arterial route will remain open, Great North Road will be narrowed from two to one lane in each direction over the holiday weekend for work associated with the NZTA’s Waterview Connection project.

The changed road layout will be in place from midnight Thursday, 28 March, until midnight on Easter Monday, 1 April.

The NZTA’s State Highways Manager for Auckland and Northland, Tommy Parker, says the project-related works have been scheduled for Easter to avoid causing more widespread congestion, but the temporary reduction in capacity still has the potential to cause delays.

“There’s never a perfect time for major road works, however we will always look for the most sensible times to schedule full or partial road closures,” says Mr Parker. “This stretch of Great North Road forms part of one of Auckland’s busiest commuter routes, and we are taking advantage of the Easter break so we don’t impact on people’s ability to get to and from work.”

While Great North Road is narrowed, Waterview Connection staff will conduct ground investigation works to prepare for the relocation of services that are under the road.

The NZTA says people planning to travel to the Waitakeres and to Piha and other west coast beaches should consider leaving the Northwestern Motorway (State Highway 16) past the causeway.

Great North Road will be re-opened to two lanes in each direction in time for the morning commute on Tuesday, 2 April.

The Waterview Connection project, which includes the construction of two three-lane tunnels, is part of the Western Ring Route road of national significance.

More information on the Waterview Connection project is available at www.nzta.govt.nz.waterviewconnection, www.youtube.com/wcnow and www.twitter.com/wcnow.

ENDS

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