Auckland City Council
Media release

21 October 2008

Beat the road works in central Auckland

Three significant projects to improve central Auckland’s transport and infrastructure will take place around the city over the next 12 to 15 months.

“A great deal of work is going on, but all of it is necessary for meeting the needs of our growing city,” says Councillor Ken Baguley, chairperson of the Transport Committee.

Work to strengthen Grafton Bridge, as part of the Central Connector project, will start on 25 October. The bridge will remain closed to vehicle traffic, but open to pedestrians and cyclists, until early 2010. Upon completion, the bridge will be able to withstand a one in one-thousand year earthquake and accommodate up to 1200 buses every weekday.

The map attached highlights alternative routes for traffic during the bridge’s closure. Work on the Central Connector project is also taking place on Park Road near Auckland Hospital.

The council is working closely with the Hospital and St Johns Ambulance to ensure emergency services still have quick access during the work on Park Road and Grafton Bridge.

Nearby, ONTRACK has begun a 12-month construction programme to rebuild the Khyber Pass and Park Road overbridges as part of a region wide rail upgrade. Two-way traffic will remain on Park and Khyber Pass roads, but overall lane numbers will be reduced.

Between late October and February, Vector will be carrying out work to reinforce the electricity supply around the waterfront. While work is taking place, lane capacity will be reduced on Lower Albert Street and Quay Street, between Lower Albert and Tangihua streets. Work will also be carried out on Fanshawe Street over the New Year period.

The council has prepared a detailed traffic management plan to help traffic flow in the central city area during the works however, delays can be expected in the areas where road works are taking place. City commuters are asked to avoid the affected areas where possible or use other modes of transport.

“The council is working closely with ONTRACK and Vector to ensure the impact of work is minimised as much as possible, however, as with any projects on this scale, some traffic delays can be expected,” Mr Baguley says

All three projects will help meet the demands of an increasingly growing and fast moving city.

Travel tip: Khyber Pass rail upgrade – October to late 2009

Motorists on the southern motorway bound for Newmarket and Parnell areas should consider using the Market Road off ramp and the St Marks Road on ramp for return journeys.

Travel tip: Vector work on Quay Street – Late October until late 2009

Motorists are advised to use Quay and the surrounding streets only if travelling to and from the CBD. All other journeys should be made via Stanley Street and the motorway links.

Map:

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