9 September 2013 NZ Transport Agency - Auckland

Lights on at Auckland’s busy Papakura Interchange

The NZ Transport Agency is reminding drivers to take care at the Papakura interchange on Auckland’s Southern Motorway (State Highway 1).

Two new sets of traffic signals located at the on and off-ramps on the interchange have been switched on and the Transport Agency’s Highways Manager Tommy Parker says they make it safer to get on and off the motorway.

“This is a significant change for drivers using the interchange who previously relied on the give way rule. The signals will take some time to get used to and drivers need to take extra care.”

The T2 bypass lane, which had been closed over the past two weeks for traffic monitoring purposes, has been reopened.

“We’ll be analysing the data collected during the closure to see how the recent changes at Papakura have affected the motorway. Drivers can only use the T2 lane if they have one or more passengers in the car – it’s a priority lane for their benefit and people who do not comply run the risk of a fine,” Mr Parker says.

The $35M upgrade of the interchange is part of a wider Transport Agency programme of works it is accelerating to improve journey times along the Southern Motorway between Papakura and Manukau.

ENDS

© Scoop Media