Subscribe to RSSMaioro St Delays Ahead
Stressful times for motorists who use the Maioro Street section of SH20 or indeed SH20.
That section will close on Friday for four weeks so that it can accelerate the construction of a new interchange in time for the Rugby World Cup.
Maioro Street is a key link for drivers travelling between the Central/Western suburbs and to South Auckland.
Plans for the work to be done slowly over a 3 month period to reduce disruption have been scrapped.
The NZTA’s State Highways Manager for Auckland and Northland, Tommy Parker says that by carrying out all of this work the entire Maioro Street Interchange project - including the new half diamond interchange, two new bridges and new motorway on and off ramps - will be open again before the Rugby World Cup and fully complete before Christmas - three months ahead schedule.
Mr Parker says the Maioro Street works are significant and he asks for support from drivers to ensure the accelerated construction programme can be completed on time.
“Unfortunately, this closure will cause delays and we apologise for this,” he says. “Constructing the new interchange in a four week timetable will help us keep disruptions to a minimum. The alternative is a three month-long building programme with even more delays and detours.”
The NZTA will have detours in place and it advises all drivers to allow more time for their journeys – especially during the morning and afternoon peaks, and if they use Maioro Street to go to and from Auckland International Airport.
Maioro Street will be closed between Sandringham Road and Richardson Road so the NZTA can construct the new Maioro Street and Richardson Road intersection, as well as complete the new motorway off ramp and noise walls. During the second and final weekends of the four week period the NZTA will extend the closure further south along the Southwestern Motorway to the Dominion Road off ramp.
The closure will enable the NZTA to install the necessary drainage and complete the new on-ramp over Sandringham Road and realign roads around the interchange. .
NZTA says the closure starting on July 22 will start after the afternoon peak and detours will be in place.
“There still be delays and we urge motorists to plan ahead, use alternative routes around the city and allow plenty of extra time to get to their destinations on time and safely – especially during the morning and afternoon peaks.”
Eventually the Maioro Street interchange will be developed into a full diamond interchange with motorway ramps for both north and southbound traffic. This will create a seamless connection between the existing and future Southwestern motorway (SH20). Cyclists will have smoother trips with an extended cycleway.
4 Comments
Never quite worked out why the didn’t do these off and on ramps the right way the first time instead of the roundabout and lead in roads. They always knew where the motorway was going to go. Just seems another lot of money wasted redoing what has only been in use for a short time.
Exactly! Completely annoying and stupid. People have come to rely on this connection, and even though its temporary it is a major hassle!
One word: Consents. In all likelihood, they didn’t own all the land either. Plus Waterview was far from done and dusted and agreed then.
Also, I suspect that the full interchange is just a TEENSY bit more expensive than a roundabout, folks. I personally am against pro-actively spending a couple dozen million extra just so that - maybe - years down the line people can MAYBE be saved some months of delays.
Of course there IS the argument that building it right then could have saved some money. True, and likely right - but as I said - Waterview could have dragged on another decade before being built, and at that point, you start getting into major financial benefits by NOT doing big interchanges that you may or may not need for a decade yet.
Fair comments Karl… it is damn frustrating though!