Transit New Zealand
Wellington Regional Office

MEDIA RELEASE
9 MARCH 2005

Roadworks at Mt Victoria tunnel

Transit New Zealand says repairs to correct a major fault in an electrical cable near the Mount Victoria Tunnel could mean delays to traffic travelling to the city from the eastern suburbs.

Project manager Kevin Locke says that the delays will particularly affect traffic travelling from the Eastern suburbs and airport.

“The fault in the electrical cable has been located between the western portal of the tunnel and the entrance to Wellington College. It will take four days to fix from Monday 14 March until Thursday 17 March,” Mr Locke said.

Mr Locke said that the cable carries the main electrical feed to the eastern suburbs, and that the power is currently being re-routed. United Networks and Vector are carrying out and paying for the electrical repairs to the cable, which is buried 1.7 metres under the west-bound lanes on the Basin Reserve side of the tunnel.

“We are appealing to all motorists to consider taking alternative routes, around Evans Bay or through Newtown,” Mr Locke said.

“If you are going to the airport you should allow an extra half hour, especially at peak times because the barriers round the work site will have the effect of slowing east-bound traffic. We have informed taxi companies and commercial drivers of these conditions,” he said.

“The work will continue night and day, but the most noise will be on Monday 14 March when the hole is being dug. We are sending a letter to residents near the tunnel to tell them what is happening,” he said.

ENDS

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