The NZ Transport Agency reminds drivers that it is closing a section of the northbound lanes on Auckland's Southern Motorway (State Highway 1) near the Newmarket Viaduct from 5pm tonight (Saturday, 28 January).
The northbound lanes will be closed from the Market Road off-ramp to the Gillies Avenue on-ramp so that the NZTA can complete necessary work to divert the motorway on to the new northbound Newmarket Viaduct. The NZTA plans to re-open the motorway by 8am on Auckland Anniversary Monday (30 January), when drivers will be using the new viaduct.
"This is one of the busiest sections of motorway in our Auckland network - even at weekends - and delays during the closure will be severe, " says the NZTA's acting State Highways Manager for Auckland and Northland, Steve Mutton. "We have to redirect up to 65,000 vehicles that normally use this section of motorway on Sundays. There is going to be a lot of congestion and delays on roads around the motorway, even with our detours in place to help drivers."
Mr Mutton says the NZTA accepts that the closure will cause frustration.
"We appreciate the great support we've had from Aucklanders throughout the Newmarket Viaduct replacement project and we are determined to complete this closure as quickly as we can so that we can deliver the benefits of the fantastic new viaduct to drivers. But until we have finished our final works, our best advice is to stay away from the motorway this weekend - only drive if you have to."
To help keep traffic flowing more smoothly, the NZTA is also closing the Market Road southbound motorway off-ramp, the Greenlane northbound motorway on-ramp, the Ellerslie-Panmure Highway northbound motorway on-ramp, and the South Eastern Highway northbound motorway on ramp.
Auckland Transport and KiwiRial have deferred electrification work on the Southern Line, which runs through Newmarket, to provide people with another transport option during the motorway closure.
