MEDIA RELEASE

TRANSIT NEW ZEALAND WELLINGTON REGIONAL OFFICE

22 February 2007

Overnight diversion off SH2 while footbridge work concludes

Road users will be diverted off SH2 between Petone and Korokoro overnight on Saturday while the SH2 Dowse to Petone Upgrade Project team conclude work to the pedestrian footbridge linking with Petone Station.

Transit Regional Manager Graham Taylor says the pedestrian footbridge upgrade, being undertaken as part of the project, will conclude with three new footbridge spans being manoeuvred into their final positions this Saturday night. The major new bridge span across SH2 was put into its temporary position on 26 January so the construction crew could prepare its final foundations while still providing access across the state highway for the many pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users who cross on the bridge daily. The other two spans include one across the railway line and another to connect to these spans.

In order to manoeuvre the bridge spans into place with a crane SH2 will be closed from the Petone overbridge to the Korokoro traffic signal controlled intersection. A diversion will be in place from 8pm until 8am through Petone along Hutt Road, reconnecting with SH2 at the Korokoro intersection. The diversion will be well signposted in both directions. Motorists are advised to look out for temporary signs to guide the way.

Access for pedestrians across the highway will be maintained while the work takes place. D2P staff will be on site to escort pedestrians and cyclists across the road until the footbridge is reopened.

Mr Taylor says the highway closure may be repeated on Sunday night. If this happens the road will be open before 6am Monday to accommodate peak traffic.

He assures road users that the footbridge installation has been planned carefully to ensure that delays are kept to a minimum. It also coincides with ONTRACK rail maintenance this weekend.

“This work has been timed so it doesn’t have a major impact on traffic. We will have staff monitoring the site while the footbridge work is underway and they will be able to act accordingly if there is any traffic build-up. However, as the work takes place overnight, we don’t anticipate any traffic issues,” Mr Taylor says.

Mr Taylor says while the road is closed, the project team will take the opportunity to prepare a northbound traffic diversion. This diversion will be similar to the one established further north and provides the construction crew with valuable space to continue the project while still keeping road users moving. Other work to install services will also take place in the same area.

Transit thanks the public for their patience while we improve their journeys.

ENDS

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