14 September 2016 | CENTRAL REGION

Upcoming changes for northbound SH1 traffic near Raumati South

The NZ Transport Agency is advising motorists that from next week, traffic heading north to Poplar Avenue/Raumati South will start to use the Mackays to Peka Peka Expressway off-ramp at the Poplar Avenue Interchange. This will allow the team to carry out works to connect the Expressway to the existing state highway. Southbound traffic will continue using the same lanes along the existing State Highway 1 for now.

“Though the Expressway isn’t open yet, we can use the off-ramp to carry road users safely around our works area, and continue this important work,” says Neil Walker, State Highway Manager, NZ Transport Agency, says.

“We’re making these changes so motorists can continue flowing freely while keeping everyone safe. Motorists will see the work happening between the north and southbound lanes for around month. Please avoid slowing to watch what’s happening, and continue driving smoothly as you normally would.”

From next week people travelling north going to Raumati South will exit using the Poplar Avenue off-ramp instead of the existing Poplar Avenue/State Highway 1 T-intersection.

Those continuing north on State Highway 1 will also be temporarily re-routed, using the other ramp that has been built for the Poplar Avenue partial interchange.

There will be no left turn at the T-intersection into Poplar Avenue heading north. Traffic will still be able to turn left and right out of Poplar Avenue, and turn right into Poplar Avenue if coming from Paraparaumu.

Cyclists traveling north will head down the off-ramp and around the roundabout, before merging back onto the existing state highway north of the Poplar Avenue intersection. Southbound cyclists will continue to use the shoulder as they normally would.
While these changes are in place, it’s important to share the road with other road users, and observe signage and speed restrictions in place.

“Over the past few years we’ve had a 70km/h speed restriction in place through this area to keep workers and road users safe. During these works that restriction will stay in place and it’s important that everyone sticks to it as they travel around the work site,” Mr Walker says.

Southbound traffic will continue using the same lanes along the existing State Highway 1 for now. Road users should keep an eye out for signage and road layout changes next week. These changes are weather dependent and more updates will be issued if required.

The Mackays to Peka Peka (M2PP) Expressway is a $630 million, NZ Transport Agency project to build 18km of four-lane expressway along the Kāpiti Coast, north of Wellington. It is one of the sections that make up the Wellington Northern Corridor.

The M2PP Expressway is being delivered by the M2PP Alliance made up of the NZ Transport Agency, The Fletcher Construction Company Ltd, Beca Ltd and Higgins Contractors Ltd.

For more project information visit www.m2pp.co.nz

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