Transmission Gully to link up with SH1
Wellington motorists can expect significant disruption on State Highway 1 north of the city as the Transmission Gully motorway continues its emergence into public view.
The major roading project, due to be completed in 2020, will spill over SH1 at Linden in the coming weeks as new bridge spans are erected and an old bridge is destroyed.
New Zealand Transport Agency regional relationships director Emma Speight warned the regions’ mayors of incoming ‘‘significant disruption’’ at a Greater Wellington Regional Council transport committee meeting yesterday.
The September traffic switch will move southbound SH1 traffic from the existing Collins Ave overbridge on to a new bridge, which is two metres higher.
The old Collins Ave bridge will be demolished as two bridges over the highway are under construction. A 70kmh speed limit will be in place throughout this section of road.
Speight couldn’t speak to the specifics of the traffic management plan but said it was ‘‘safe to assume the road would be closed during the installation of [bridge] spans’’.
‘‘[We’re] very conscious of the temporary traffic management
‘‘[We’re] very conscious of the temporary traffic management issues in that part of the corridor.’’ NZTA’s Emma Speight
issues in that part of the corridor.’’
Speight said there was still work to be done before the lane switch, which would happen in the next few weeks.
New lane markings were already being painted in preparation, and the shifting of lanes would be completed at night, she added.
‘‘With Transmission Gully becoming much more visible, there is going to be some real impact on State Highway 1 at Linden and at McKay’s Crossing.’’
Before year’s end, similar disruption is expected at McKay’s Crossing.
A slip road, which services local roads from the main highway, is currently being built and traffic will be diverted onto this to provide ‘‘full access’’ for construction.
Traffic on State Highway 58 will also be diverted under a new bridge for Transmission Gully by the year’s end.