TRANSIT NEW ZEALAND NATIONAL OFFICE

4 October 2007

Closure of SH1 Newlands southbound off-ramp

Transit New Zealand will be closing the SH1 Newlands southbound off-ramp this weekend to allow Wellington City Council contractors to lay a new sewer pipe as part of the Johnsonville Sewer Upgrade.

Transit’s Central Operations Manager Mark Owen says the off-ramp will be closed from 9.00am this Saturday, October 6, until 5.30am, Monday October 8 while the new sewer pipe is installed across the Newlands off-ramp.

A diversion is available via the Johnsonville southbound off-ramp for motorists who would normally use the Newlands off-ramp. Electronic message boards will be placed on the highway to indicate the off-ramp closure and available detour for southbound motorists.

Although this work is scheduled to take place from Saturday until Monday morning, the contractor will be working around the clock and it is hoped that it may be finished ahead of schedule, depending on weather conditions.

“We appreciate that this closure may be inconvenient for some, but Transit and Wellington City Council ask for your patience while this work is carried out,” Mr Owen says.

This weekend’s work is part of the second stage of the $2.2 million upgrade and involves digging trenches on the state highway from the Newlands off-ramp to the Johnsonville overpass and replacing the existing sewer system with upgraded pipes.

Wellington City Council’s Infrastructure Director Stavros Michael says the sewer needs relaying in order for it to operate properly and cater for current and future residential and business growth in Johnsonville.

The sewer runs the length of Johnsonville Road and continues down Ngauranga Gorge, collecting wastewater from the central Johnsonville area and parts of Newlands.

The upgrade began in April 2007 and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

ENDS

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