Auckland Regional Office March 18 2005

Media Release

Motorway Closures for the Southern Motorway (SH1) through Central Motorway Junction

From Sunday night Transit New Zealand will be closing the Southern Motorway (SH1) southbound between Cook Street off-ramp and Hobson Street on-ramp to place beams on the new Southern Motorway (SH1) to Nelson Street off-ramp.

The closures will be overnight from 8.00pm to 6.00am during the week of 20 March 2005 (commencing Sunday night due to Easter). The Hobson Street on-ramp to the Southern Motorway (SH1) will also be closed on Sunday night. No work is planned during Easter from 5.00pm Thursday 24 to 7.00am Tuesday 29 March.

The closures are required to install the final concrete beams for the new SH1 Southern Motorway to Nelson Street off-ramp which, in line with other off-ramps nationally, will provide a left-hand-side exit in the “slow lane”. Motorists coming from the Harbour Bridge will be diverted off the motorway at the Cook Street off-ramp and directed back onto the motorway at Hobson Street on-ramp.

Two 200 tonne cranes will be set up once traffic has been diverted to install the beams which are up to 37 metres long and weigh up to 59 tonnes. Specialist delivery vehicles will be used to transport them. The precast, prestressed beams are manufactured off-site, which means minimum traffic disruption during construction.

Motorists should expect delays during these times and use alternative routes where possible.

Transit New Zealand apologises to motorists in advance for any inconvenience these motorway closures may cause. The Central Motorway Junction is at the very heart of the major projects to upgrade Auckland’s motorway system and the installation of these beams is an important part of this process.

Stage 2 of CMJ covers the area between Wellington Street and Symonds Street on SH1 and Bond St on SH16.

ENDS

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