Transit New Zealand Wellington Regional Office

30 NOVEMBER 2006

Wellington Inner City Bypass: Willis Street works

As part of the Inner City Bypass, work has commenced on Willis Street, at the Abel Smith Street intersection, to resurface the road at its intersection with the new bypass.

In order to cause the least disruption to traffic, the resurfacing works will be undertaken between 7pm and 6am on Sunday 3 December and Monday 4 December. Traffic diversions will be in place.

Through traffic traveling on Willis Street between Abel Smith Street and Vivian Street will be diverted up Abel Smith Street, along The Terrace and back to Willis Street via Ghuznee Street, for the duration of the diversion.

The works may extend to Tuesday night if delayed by poor weather.

www.wicb.co.nz

About the Wellington Inner City Bypass

· The Wellington Inner City Bypass will provide a safer, more efficient route between the southern and eastern suburbs and the northern gateway to Wellington. It will re-route cross-city traffic away from Ghuznee Street and the heart of the inner city and Cuba Street area.

· It is a one-way, two-lane road at ground level, with dedicated turning lanes and a 50km/h speed limit (until just past the Willis Street intersection, heading north, where the speed limit will increase to 80km/h and the road will be gradually lowered beneath Vivian Street). Existing roads will be altered and redefined, and 700 metres of new road will be constructed along with 1080 metres of new footpath and cycleway.

· A total of 23 heritage buildings are to be preserved as part of the project at an estimated cost of $3.5 million. Of these, five will remain in place and 18 relocated and restored, with one taken down and reconstructed using materials still in good condition.

· Buildings of similar age and style will be kept together, preserved and restored with their original orientation and access maintained wherever possible. A historic precinct will be created adjoining Footscray Avenue for those we have to move.

· Transit will install three new sets of traffic signals, build a new motorway on-ramp at Willis/Abel Smith Streets and move the current motorway off-ramp from Ghuznee Street to Vivian Street. A new link between Cuba Street and Willis Street will also be created.

· Wellington City Council's Te Aro Stormwater main will start at the Taranaki St end of Arthur St, progress along the northern side of Arthur St, across Cuba St and along the route of the bypass until Willis Street, where the main has been laid up Palmer Street to Te Aro Park.

· Construction of the bypass is expected to be completed mid 2007.

ENDS

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