19 December 2011

NZ Transport Agency – Auckland/Northland Region

Chose early for big changes on Victoria Park flyover say NZTA

The drive south on State Highway 1 from Auckland’s North Shore will change for good in early January when the NZ Transport Agency opens the flyover across Victoria Park in a new southbound-only layout.

From 9 January, all four lanes on the flyover will carry southbound traffic and the NZTA is advising drivers to prepare well for the changes, which are being made as part of the staged completion of the Victoria Park Tunnel project.

“Drivers will need to be in the correct lane for their destination. If they’re not, they could end up somewhere where they don’t want to go,” says Tommy Parker, the NZTA”s State Highways Manager for Auckland and Northland. “This will be the biggest change on Auckland’s central motorway network since the viaduct was opened in 1962.”

Mr Parker says there will be no opportunity for drivers to change direction once they are on the flyover because the central barrier that previously separated northbound and southbound traffic will remain.

The southbound lanes to the left of the barrier will take drivers off SH1 to the CBD via Cook Street, east to the Port and west to the North Western Motorway (SH16). The two lanes to the right of the barrier will continue south on SH1 to Newmarket and beyond.

“We are strongly recommending that drivers chose their correct lane early, while they are still on the North Shore approaching the harbour bridge to reduce dangerous lane changes through St Marys Bay,” Mr Parker says. “It’s well proven internationally that drivers don’t gain anything by frequent lane changing. In fact, they slow the entire network down. By getting into the correct lane early, and staying in that lane, they will help make the drive through St Marys Bay a lot safer and smoother for everyone.”

Motorway signs from Onewa to the viaduct are being upgraded to reflect the new layout on the Victoria Park flyover. A video animation showing the new layout can be viewed on the project’s website: www.nzta.govt.nz\projects\victoria-park-tunnel

The target date for the flyover to open in its new layout is Monday, 9 January. This may change if weather dependent motorway paving through St Marys Bay cannot be completed in time.

Mr Parker says all additional southbound motorway capacity will open at the same time as the new layout on the viaduct. This includes an fifth traffic lane through St Marys Bay and a city bound bus lane.

All additional northbound motorway capacity will open in March, including the third lane in the Victoria Park tunnel.

The Victoria Park Tunnel project is one of seven roads of national significance, prioritised by the government to support economic growth locally and nationally. It was started in November 2009 and is due to be completed in March 2012, three months ahead of schedule.

Mr Parker says Victoria Park, together with the Newmarket Viaduct replacement project to the south, will help improve travel times and safety for all drivers through Auckland’s heavily congested central motorway junction.

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ENDS

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