SH1 from Wellington to Johnsonville will be closed for two nights. Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas
Main roads in and out of the capital will be cut off this week and next, due to a number of maintenance-related road closures.
Wellington road users will need to start "planning ahead", and take back roads, NZTA has said.
State Highway 1 - Wellington to Johnsonville
The highway's southbound lanes will be closed for two nights - Sunday, 2 February and Monday, 3 February, between 9pm and 4.30am.
Wellington Transport Alliance manager Roxanne Hilliard said the middle lane of the highway must be resurfaced.
Detours were available - light vehicles should take the Johnsonville southbound offramp and detour to the city via Johnsonville, Khandallah, and the Ngaio Gorge. It is not suitable for heavy vehicles because of height restrictions on Johnsonville underpass.
Those travelling to the Hutt from SH1 would need to take the SH58 detour via Transmission Gully, including heavy vehicles.
Heavy vehicles must use SH58 to Haywards Hill and then State Highway 2 to get to the city.
"These detours are longer, so drivers should allow for extra travel time," Hilliard said.
State Highway 1/Urban Motorway - Wellington to Hutt
Meanwhile, Major maintenance works are planned for Wellington’s urban motorway SH1 next month, meaning drivers will have to plan ahead for getting in and out of the CBD.
Full night closures are planned from Sunday, 9 February to Thursday, 13 February, between 9 pm and 4:30 am.
The works are dependent on good weather, so the closures may be delayed into the following week if required.
While the work is underway, the motorway will be closed to northbound traffic between Karo Drive and Ngauranga Interchange. It will also be closed to southbound traffic between the Terrace offramp and Vivian Street.
Drivers will have to use alternate routes to get in and out of Wellington city.
“Crews will resurface around five lane kilometres of the northbound lanes between Aotea Quay onramp and the Ngauranga Interchange,” Roxanne Hilliard, Wellington Transport Alliance Manager, said.
“These resurfacing works will make this stretch of road much smoother and safer as it is currently in poor condition.
“Over 30,000 vehicles use this section of State Highway 1 daily, so it’s crucial that it’s regularly maintained. Closing the road at night when traffic volumes are much lower reduces disruption to drivers.”
Ms Hilliard says the annual BWoF for The Terrace Tunnel is also important.
“The Terrace Tunnel is a vital piece of infrastructure, and it must be inspected, tested and maintained regularly.”
“We will also be making the most of the full closure to complete other tasks as well. This includes renewing digital signs, streetlight maintenance, sign gantry assessments, carrying out structural inspections on overbridges and on and offramps, assessing safety barriers, clearing drains, removing graffiti, and clearing rubbish,” Ms Hillard says.
She says the full closures allow more work to be done faster, are safer for road crews and road users, and they also save traffic management costs.
“However, this full closure and the detour routes mean it will take drivers a little longer to get in and out of the central city. Plan ahead and allow extra time for your travel – particularly if you are heading to Wellington Hospital or Wellington Airport,” Ms Hillard says.
Works Schedule and Detour Routes
- Sunday, 9 February to Thursday, 13 February. 9 pm – 4:30 am.
- Traffic management set up from 7 pm – drivers can expect delays during this time.
- Northbound closure:
- SH1 Urban Motorway closed between Karo Drive and Ngauranga Interchange
- All northbound on and offramps will be closed - Clifton onramp, Tinakori onramp, Tinakori offramp, May Street onramp and Aotea Quay onramp
- Drivers should detour via Karo Drive – Willis Street – Customhouse/Waterloo/Aotea Quay – Hutt Road – Ngauranga Interchange. See the detour map below.
- Southbound closure:
- SH1 Urban Motorway closed to southbound traffic between The Terrace offramp and Vivian Street
- Drivers should detour via The Terrace offramp and Ghuznee/Victoria/Vivian Streets. See the detour map below.
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