Orams Rd bridge set to reopen
Peter Dilley takes a keen interest in changes to the South Auckland suburb he’s called home for 50 years.
So it was fitting the 89-year-old was the first member of the public to walk across the Orams Rd bridge ahead of its scheduled reopening.
The Manurewa bridge closed in April to allow the eastern span to be demolished and replaced as part of improvements being made to the southern motorway.
The bridge is a key connection across the motorway and into Manurewa. There were initial concerns about delays and traffic congestion with a key commuter route being closed.
Detours were put in place along Everglade Dr, Redoubt Rd and Great South Rd.
‘‘It has caused a bit of inconvenience for some people going toand-from work. The Manukau interchange has been difficult at times,’’ Dilley says.
But Dilley, who lives near the bridge, says the six months of work past fairly quickly.
‘‘I’m so pleased to see it done,’’ he says.
‘‘The guys involved have done a great job in terms of getting it done. It’s been minimal in terms of noise, we haven’t been unduly disturbed by noise.’’
It’s not the first time the Orams Rd bridge has been closed. Dilley recalls a digger arm hitting the bridge in 2009 that forced the bridge closed for repairs.
But this time he says the closure was important in allowing a fourth south-bound motorway lane to be opened.
It also means he can keep on doing his daily walks across the bridge and through the Botanic Gardens.
The wider $268 million southern corridor improvements project began in 2016 with work beginning north and south of Takanini. It’s scheduled for completion in 2019.
Earlier this year, the NZ Transport Agency opened a third lane opened between Hill Rd and the Pahurehure inlet.
The closure of the bridge was a ‘‘critical part’’ of the project, Auckland highway manager Brett Gliddon said in April.
Gliddon said at the time the corridor improvements will ease bottlenecks and help provide more consistent journey times on the southern motorway.
The Orams Rd bridge is scheduled to open to motorists, pedestrians and cyclists on October 7.