17 September 2015 | NZ Transport Agency - Auckland

Traffic moving onto newly raised causeway for first time

Traffic will be moved onto the newly raised section of the Causeway along the Northwestern Motorway (SH16) for the first time later this month.

The NZ Transport Agency is asking motorists to plan ahead and be patient as it carries out a key traffic switch starting from Friday evening (September 25), to help keep progress on the Causeway Upgrade Project moving.

The level of the harbour side of the citybound motorway across the causeway has been raised and it’s now ready to move traffic onto this section to make space for the next part of the motorway construction to begin.

The NZ Transport Agency’s Auckland Highways Manager Brett Gliddon says the traffic switch is a big milestone in the Causeway project which is widening and raising the motorway by 1.5 metres. It will prevent flooding on the lanes from the nearby marine reserve and create a safer and more reliable route for all road users.

“This is one of several staged changes so the teams working on this project have safe access to make these upgrades while keeping the motorway open to traffic and trying to minimise disruption.”

From 5am Monday 28 September citybound traffic will move onto the newly raised causeway for the first time.

“We know those using this stretch of the motorway have been incredibly patient through these ongoing works, the good news is that we’re now getting much closer to completion. By early 2017 we expect there’ll be three extra lanes across SH16 creating improved travel time reliability, dedicated bus shoulder lanes and better pedestrian and cyclist access.”

To help reduce disruption these works have been timed to include the September/October school holidays when traffic flows are lighter.

To enable the traffic switch there are two pieces of work on the Rosebank Road citybound on-ramp which will affect some motorway users.

Rosebank Road citybound on-ramp weekend closure

The Rosebank Road on-ramp will be closed from 8pm Friday 25 September until 5am28 September so the on ramp can be connected to the new raised section of the motorway.

Rosebank Road citybound on-ramp diversion

From 5am Monday 28 September for approximately four weeks drivers will be unable to enter the city bound motorway from the Rosebank Road on-ramp.

Detour options

During this time there will be a number of alternative options to enter the motorway. The best option will depend on the time of day and where you are travelling to and from.

St Lukes to Great North Road off-ramp closures

As part of the related upgrade to the St Lukes Great North Road interchange the citybound off ramp at St Lukes will be closed from 8pm Friday 25 September to 5amMonday 28 September.

Auckland Zoo and MOTAT and the cycleway will be open as usual.

Citybound traffic will need to exit the motorway at either the Great North Rd off-ramp or the Newton Road off-ramp.

The Causeway Upgrade Project is one of six projects either completed or under construction to link the Northwestern (SH16) and Southwestern (SH20) motorways providing a motorway alternative to SH1 known as the Western Ring Route. The project is raising and widening 4.8km of SH16 and the cycleway, from Great North Road to the Whau River bridge just before Te Atatu.

For more information about the project go to our website:www.nzta.govt.nz/sh16causeway

© Scoop Media