Grafton Road Opening

15 July 2002

A new section of Grafton Road opened to traffic this morning (Monday 15 July), marking a significant milestone in the delivery of Transit New Zealand’s Grafton Gully Project.

The opening of the new section means that traffic is now back on the original alignment of Grafton Road, after using a diversion around the area for the past five months. The diversion allowed for the deck of the new Grafton Road Bridge to be built, while maintaining traffic flows in the area.

Now that the new Grafton Road Bridge deck is completed, work can continue on completing the bridge itself. The new bridge has been built at the same level as the section of Grafton Road it replaces. The concrete columns supporting the bridge were poured below ground level, while the main deck was poured on a temporary concrete pad at ground level.

Excavation beneath the bridge is now underway and is exposing the columns. The temporary pad is being broken away to reveal the underside of the bridge. This method of construction created a much safer working environment, eliminating the need to work at high levels.

Once the bridge is revealed in its entirety, work will then continue on the construction of the motorway that will enable traffic to pass beneath the new Grafton Road Bridge and flow directly into Stanley Street. This will mean that pedestrians and local traffic on Grafton Road will no longer contend with heavy motorway traffic.

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