Motorway closures this week

Transit New Zealand advises all motorists that lane and ramp closures on the Southern Motorway, as well as some closures of local roads, continue this week as work progresses on Stage 1 of the Central Motorway Junction upgrade upgrade project.

Closures this week:

The Wellesley Street off-ramp (heading into the city) will be closed from 7am to 7pm on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 August. The Wellesley/Port off-ramp will be closed from 9pm until 6am each night from Tuesday 26 to Thursday 28 August.

The Symonds/Wellesley/Port off-ramp will be closed from 9pm until 6am on the nights of Sunday 24 and Monday 25 August for lane realignment work to take place in this area.

The Khyber Pass on-ramp will be closed from 9pm Sunday 24 until 6am Monday 25 August. The Khyber Pass Road on and off-ramps, and sections of Khyber Pass Road, will be closed from 9pm until 6am each night from Monday 25 to Thursday 28 August. During these closures traffic using Khyber Pass Road will be diverted through Boston Road and Auburn Street.

The connection between the Northwestern and Southern motorways between the Newton Road off-ramp and the Upper Queen Street over-bridge will be closed from 9pm until 6am each night from Monday 25 to Thursday 28 August.

The Gillies Ave on-ramp will be closed at night from 9pm Monday 25 August to 6am Tuesday 26 August.

During these closures, motorists are advised to use alternative on and off-ramps. Where applicable, alternative routes will be clearly signposted.

All closures are weather permitting, and in the event of bad weather, work will be postponed until the next clear night.

Ongoing closures:

There will be ongoing north and southbound lane closures at night on the Southern Motorway between the Gillies Ave on and off-ramps and the Symonds Street over-bridge until 2005.

Temporary barriers are erected and cones placed in all areas. Motorists are advised that there could be delays.

All work is part of Stage 1 of Transit¡¦s Central Motorway Junction upgrade project, which covers the section of motorway between the Upper Queen Street over-bridge and Gillies Ave on and off-ramps and is scheduled for completion in 2005.

The extension of the project means that there will be intensive construction activity, and major changes for motorists, from mid July through to the completion of the first stage in 2005.
Other changes that will come into affect in July and August will include:

„PThe Wellesley Street off-ramp will be closed to all traffic on the night of 14 July, and will be reduced to one lane until January 2005.
„PThe barriers and screens that have separated southbound traffic from construction activity since September 2002 will progressively move to the northbound side, to allow work to continue on the other side of the motorway. The northbound shoulder between the Gillies Ave on-ramp and the Khyber Pass off-ramp will be closed from mid July until . The southbound shoulder will re-open to traffic when this move is completed.
„PWork will move to the median area of the Southern Motorway from late July. This will include the removal of existing concrete barriers and the installation of temporary barriers and screens in the middle of the motorway. Both north and southbound lanes will be re-marked to allow for four lanes in each direction. This will involve major changes for northbound motorists from early August.
„PAlmorah Road will be closed to all traffic, including residents¡¦ vehicles, from early August until the end of 2003.

More information on specific changes, and the project in general, can be obtained from the project information centre at the corner of Stanley Street and Alten Road, Grafton (open 8.30am ¡V 5.30pm, Mondays ¡V Fridays), by phoning the project office on 0800 ToFreeflow (0800 863 733) or by visiting the Transit website: www.transit.govt.nz.

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