Transit New Zealand

Wellington Regional Office

MEDIA RELEASE

14 DECEMBER 2006

Patience requested during Bypass changes

Access from Willis Street to Abel Smith Street (east) has been permanently closed as part of the Inner City Bypass project, and Wellington motorists are being asked to be patient as changes occur to roads in the Bypass vicinity during upcoming weeks.

Transit New Zealand project manager Jonnette Adams said the road was kept open for as long as possible during the construction of the new bypass intersection with Willis and Abel Smith Streets, but has been closed this week for the installation of new traffic signals.

As a consequence of this closure, traffic flow along upper Willis Street is heavier than usual and Transit is asking motorists to please be patient and allow more time for their journey during the next few weeks.

“The new northbound route will open in two weeks time on Thursday 28 December, so congestion will ease considerably as northbound traffic will no longer be travelling along upper Willis Street to the current Vivian Street on-ramp,” she said.

Motorists who have previously used Abel Smith Street (east) will still need to continue using Ghuznee Street/Victoria Street until the section of Vivian Street between Willis and Victoria Streets has a southbound lane open.

“This is scheduled for four to six weeks’ time in mid-late January - which means it will be done by the beginning of the new school year in February,” she said.

At the end of the project, when the reversal of the traffic flow on Vivian Street is complete, motorists who have used Abel Smith Street to access Taranaki Street will be able to use Vivian Street instead.

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