2 February 2005

Motorway upgrade complete

Transit New Zealand announces the completion of the first stage of the Central Motorway (Spaghetti) Junction upgrade project.

Construction on the $56million first stage of the $195million motorway project, which started in October 2002, is now finished, including all final resealing of road surfaces.

The completion of Stage 1 of the project is another milestone reached in the effort to improve safety, efficiency and access through the Central Motorway Junction, Auckland's busiest section of motorway with over 200,000 vehicle movements per day.

The project extends from the Upper Queen Street Under pass to Gillies Ave on SH1. The project has provided a number of capacity benefits such as extra lanes running southbound from Upper Queen Street to Gillies Avenue and northbound from Gillies Avenue to Khyber Pass. There have also been improvements to the Grafton and Symonds Street on-ramps and the Gillies Ave off-ramp.

Safety levels have been enhanced through improvements to bridge structures, safety barriers, signage, lighting and storm water systems.

Improvements have also focused on the aesthetic value of the motorway, with the upgrades featuring urban design elements such as landscaping, mosaics and sculptures.

Transit New Zealand and the Freeflow Alliance thank motorists, local residents and businesses for their ongoing co-operation and patience over the past two years.

Construction continues on the CMJ Stage 2 project, which is due for completion in 2006.

ENDS

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