3 December 2004

Motorway Closures for New SH1 Southern Motorway to Nelson St off-ramp

Transit New Zealand will close the Southern Motorway (SH1) northbound between Nelson Street off-ramp and Wellington Street on-ramp for placement of beams to facilitate the new SH1 southern motorway to Nelson Street off-ramp. These closures will be overnight from 9.00pm to 6.00am on the following nights:

Monday 6, Tuesday 7 and Wednesday 8 December 2004 for the placement of beams on spans 4 and 5.

. Monday 13, Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 December for placement of beams on spans 1, 2 and 3.

. The remaining three spans will be completed in early 2005. Completion of the new left hand off-ramp is scheduled for April 2005.

The closures are required to install concrete beams for the new SH1 southern motorway to Nelson Street off-ramp which will provide a left-hand-side exit in the "slow lane", in line with other off-ramps nationally. At present, there is a right-hand-side exit to Nelson Street which has confused motorists.

Motorists using the motorway to cross the Harbour Bridge will be diverted off the motorway at the Nelson Street off-ramp and then re-directed back onto the motorway via Union Street and the Wellington Street on-ramp.

Two 200 tonne cranes will be set up once traffic has been diverted to install the beams which are up to 37 metre long and 59 tonnes. Specialist delivery vehicles will need to be used.

The motorway may also have to be closed on Thursday 9 December and Thursday 16 December, if the work has not been completed. Motorists should expect delays during these times and use alternative routes where possible.

Transit New Zealand apologises to motorists in advance for any inconvenience these motorway closures may cause. The Central Motorway Junction is at the very heart of the major projects to upgrade Auckland's motorway system and the installation of these beams is an important part of this process.

Stage 2 of CMJ covers the area between Wellington St and Symonds St on SH1 and Bond St on SH16.

For further information Transit invites you to visit the CMJ Stage 2 information centre.

CMJ Stage 2 Info centre:

* 13-19 Howe Street (Ponsonby side of the city)

* Open Monday to Friday 9.00am to 4.30pm

* Saturday 10.00am to 12.00pm

* First Sunday in the month 10.00am to 12.00pm, excluding holiday weekends

* Free parking for visitors is available at the Information Centre

* Please phone 0800 CMJ CORE (0800 265 2673) for more details

* Group visits can be organised by prior arrangement - free phone 0800 CMJ CORE (0800 265 2673)

* Visit www.transit.govt.nz/cmj

ENDS

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