Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
Regular users of the northbound Tinakori offramp on the Wellington urban motorway must prepare for five overnight closures next week.
The Wellington Transport Alliance will be resurfacing the offramp and replacing bridge joints from Sunday, 14 April, to Friday, 19 April. The offramp will be closed to all traffic between 9 pm and 5 am on these nights.
Roxanne Hilliard, Wellington Alliance Manager, says the nature of the work means the offramp has to be closed.
“Because we are replacing bridge joints and resurfacing the offramp, it is simply impossible to leave it open. This sort of work needs a full closure if it is to be done safely and effectively.”
She says the offramp closure will particularly affect residents in suburbs such as Karori, Northland, Thorndon, Wadestown, Crofton Downs, and Khandallah.
“These residents commonly use the offramp when coming off the motorway. It is essential that they are aware of this work and plan their travel accordingly.”
Ms Hilliard says drivers heading north from the Wellington CBD need to know that their usual turn-off at the Tinakori offramp after the Terrace Tunnel will not be available for these five nights.
“If you leave the CBD on the motorway, the next available turnaround isn’t until you reach Newlands at the Ngauranga Gorge. That’s a much longer journey, and one drivers can avoid if they follow sign-posted detours when leaving the city and not travel through the Terrace Tunnel.”
The work has been timed to minimise disruption and is being done at night when traffic volumes are lower. The full closure will also allow road crews to finish the repairs and resurfacing much faster.
People living near the offramp can expect some noise from the works. However, contractors will ensure the noisiest part of the work will be finished before 11 pm each night.
NZTA/Waka Kotahi and the Wellington Transport Alliance thank the public for their understanding and cooperation while this essential state highway maintenance is completed.
Works schedule
- Sunday 14 April to Friday 19 April.
- Offramp closed 9pm to 5am nightly.
- Traffic management will be set up from 7pm. Drivers can expect delays.
Detour routes
- Drivers must follow signposted detours and not travel through the Terrace Tunnel if travelling to Karori, Northland, Thorndon, Wadestown, Crofton Downs, and Khandallah.
- It is essential road users use alternate routes to access these suburbs because using the Terrace Tunnel means only way to get back to Tinakori Road is to turn around at Newlands, Ngauranga Gorge (SH1) or Petone (SH2.) This would add up to 20-minutes additional travel time in quiet traffic.
More Information
More details about state highway maintenance work in the Wellington region can be found on the NZTA/Waka Kotahi website.
