Subscribe to RSSNZTA: Manukau Extsn Benefits PT
Auckland’s newest motorway, opened today, is a project that not only benefits road users but will lead to public transport improvements as well.
That’s the message from NZTA’s Regional Director for Auckland and Northland, Wayne McDonald at today’s opening by the transport minister of the motorway, connecting the SH1 and SH20 motorways at Manukau City.
The SH20-1 Manukau Extension cost $220m and has taken four years to construct. The 4.5 kilometre-long motorway eliminates 12 sets of traffic signals.
Mr McDonald said the project’s main contractor, Leighton Works, have completed earthworks for the construction of the Manukau rail link next to the motorway, and the NZTA is contributing to the funding of city’s rail station and adjacent bus station.
“Together the new highway and the rail and bus links are significant transport improvements for a region of Auckland that is growing in strategic and economic importance,” Mr McDonald says.
He added that everyone – drivers, cyclists and pedestrians - will also benefit from the reduced congestion around Manukau city streets.
Manukau's rail trench is right alongside the new motorway
At dawn, local iwi blessed the new motorway.
Wayne McDonald & Len Brown |NZTA
Then, Mr Joyce, accompanied by the Mayor of Manukau, Len Brown, representatives from local iwi, and officials from the NZTA and Leighton Works cut the ribbon.
The Manukau extension is the southern gateway to the Western Ring Route – the alternative motorway to SH1 and the Auckland Harbour Bridge that will eventually link Manukau to Albany on Auckland’s North Shore via State Highways 20, 16 and 18.
The NZTA says that there is still work to be done before drivers can enjoy the full benefit of the new motorway, and it will be opened to traffic in three stages before Christmas.
From Sunday, motorists will be able to use the southbound lanes. There will, however, be speed restrictions in place and some overnight closures and diversions to complete final highway surfacing. If the weather is bad, tomorrow’s opening to traffic will be postponed until the next fine night.
Lanes for those heading west and north open a month later, and the overall project will be completed in December after a section of the Puhinui Stream is diverted.
Today’s opening was followed by an open day in which people took the chance to walk and cycle the new motorway before it opens to traffic.
8 Comments
yah!
only taken 40 years to do!
What!! were they using picks and shovels?
no, just that they should have done it 40 years ago when they were doing the southern motorway, or atleat in the late 70′s when they started the Mangere Motorway (SH20)
In that case the Avondale - Southdown line should have been completed first, it has been on the drawing books since the 40′s.
I wasjust kidding
They should have finished the CBD tunnel and Kingsland deviation back when it was first proposed in the late 1880s.
Shame they didn’t allow people onto the flyovers at the Sh1-Sh20 interchange. That would have given great views.
once it got started this one was built pretty quickly. I suppose thats the benefit of building it offline, much lower traffic management issues.