Auckland Regional Office 17 February 2006

Lanes closed on Mangere Bridge

As part of essential motorway maintenance this summer, Transit New Zealand will be undertaking joint replacement work on Mangere Bridge on the Southwestern Motorway (SH20).

The work to install six joints on the bridge will start on Friday 17 February and span six weekends until Monday 10 April, weather permitting. The two northbound lanes of the bridge will be closed from Friday 11pm to Monday 5.30am on each of these weekends. All southbound lanes will remain open and some delays are expected.

A signposted detour will be in place for northbound traffic, diverting traffic off the motorway at the Coronation Road off-ramp, taking a detour route through the local road network around the Manukau Harbour and re-entering the motorway on the Neilson Street on-ramp.

As this route is significantly longer, the detour will have a direct effect on motorists travelling in and around the area, as well as from Auckland International Airport. Transit advises motorists to take the detour route into account when travelling northbound from the airport and allow additional travel time to reach their destination.

Buses and emergency services will have special access across the bridge's northbound lanes while the work is in progress. However, for safety reasons, no buses will be allowed to cross the bridge on Saturday (18 February) and will have to use the detour.

Bus routes affected are: the 304, 305, 315, 324, 328, 348 and 354 travelling northbound.

Transit apologises for any inconvenience to passengers and suggests they take the extra time required into account when travelling.

For further information on the closures visit www.transit.govt.nz or phone free on

ENDS

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