If you are driving around Auckland this weekend it may pay to stay away from SH16, in particular around Lincoln Rd as the NZTA is closing the motorway between Lincoln Rd and Brigham Creek Rd for the next stage of the Lincoln Rd upgrade. They will be demolishing the old bridge that crossed the motorway so they get on with replacing it with a 7 lane monstrosity.
The citybound motorway lanes will be closed between the Brigham Creek roundabout and Lincoln Road off-ramp starting from 10pm on Friday (13 January) until midday on Sunday (15 January). The westbound lanes will also be closed between Te Atatu Road off-ramp and Lincoln Road on-ramp.
“We want to cause as little disruption as possible, but this is a busy section of Auckland’s motorway network and delays and congestion will be unavoidable and our best advice to people is to stay away if possible,” says the NZTA’s acting State Highways Manager for Auckland and Northland, Steve Mutton.
“We’re taking advantage of the good weather and lighter traffic flows to enable us to demolish the old Selwood Bridge piece by piece. To ensure that the crews can do this safely and as quickly as possible, we need to close the motorway.”
The NZTA is recommending that people going west avoid using the Northwestern Motorway altogether from the causeway, as big delays are likely. And for those travelling to east to the city should use the new SH18 Hobsonville Motorway from Westgate, to access the Northern Motorway (SH1) and then travel south over the Auckland Harbour Bridge.
People travelling to events in the city are advised to plan their travel well ahead and allow extra time for their journeys. Detour routes will be in place as well as live traffic updates on radio and extra roadside electronic signs to advise drivers of conditions.
Mr Mutton says he is confident that the motorway lanes will be opened on Sunday, before most people return from their Christmas break to return to work.
“We’re aiming to cause the least amount of disruption to commuters and having our crews work around the clock means we can push on to the next stage of improvements work to complete the new bridge.
“Depending on progress and traffic volumes, we may be in a position to open one single lane westbound between Te Atatu and Lincoln Road during the day on Saturday. However, congestion will still be extremely heavy and our best advice to drivers is to stay away completely.” he says.
Two lanes on the new Selwood Road Bridge opened to traffic in December completing the first half of the bridge as part of the Lincoln Road Interchange improvements project. The bridge will be fully completed in 2013, with seven lanes for traffic and a shared path for walkers and cyclists. Ramp improvements will improve capacity, safety and trip reliability.
The $100M Lincoln Road improvements are part of a suite of projects in the Western Ring Route – Road of National Significance, prioritised by the Government to support growth and economic development in Auckland. The alternative route to SH1 will improve connections between Manukau in the south, Auckland International Airport, Waitakere and the North Shore, and ease congestion on the Auckland Harbour Bridge and the central city.
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Is the interchange future-proofed for a Northwest Busway? Dare I even ask….
Don’t be silly, SH16 East of the interchange wasn’t designated as an RTN so the NZTA ignored it and in doing so also managed to ignore the section to the North West of the interchange that were. It seems the best we will get is bus lanes that end before each interchange. Oh and pedestrians and cyclists using the extended cycleway will have to cross four sets of traffic lights just to get across the road.
What a shame, NZTA were starting to progress well with their work for cyclists and pedestrains in Motorway projects. A return of the NZTA of old?
Never expected the RTN, why they can’t future proof these things are beyond me…
Strange how NZTA can just ignore the fact that this interchange is meant to be a core part of the Henderson to Albany RTN.
4 sets at Lincoln and then another 4 at Te Atatu once that is upgraded. Second class citizens I tell you!
Absolute class from the NZTA Planning Division again [/end sarc]
They also seem to miss the fact that this is the last weekend where any one still on holiday up north comes back to start work on Monday (Newmarket-Britomart = fun times on the rail network) so SH16 close blocks an alternative to State Highway One and the Harbour Bridge. BTW are those surfacing works finished yet on the Bridge?
Might check Google Earth later on and see if a rail line can be snaked around to Westgate and through to Albany and State Highway One