Construction update

Welcome to the August 2019 construction update

With work nearly 85 percent complete on the Southern Corridor Improvements (SCI) project, much of the “invisible” below-ground work is now finished and motorists are able to see changes at the road level. The project is on track for completion by late-2019.

Here is the latest on what’s been happening across the project over the last month, as well as what’s coming up.

Progress on the SCI project is becoming more noticeable every day

Pescara Point, showing southbound shoulder works and foundation works on both sides of the motorway

Progress on new bridge at Pescara Point

During August and September, motorists will notice a new landmark bridge appearing across the Southern Motorway, from Pescara Point Reserve (Hingaia) to Pahurehure Esplanade Reserve.

Earthworks have been finished on the western approach to the bridge at Pescara Point Reserve and work is underway to widen the southbound shoulder of the motorway. This will allow traffic to be moved to the shoulder and provide space for a work zone in the central median, where a temporary support for the bridge will be built. The temporary support will be removed and the bridge will have one long span across the motorway once it is fully installed and connected.

From late August, bridge spans will be transported from Napier and motorists will see them individually lifted into place across the motorway, before handrails are welded on. With four span sections to transport and weld together, the task will take a month.

The full bridge structure should be visible to motorists from late August and through September.

Artist’s impression of the new bridge at Pescara Point

Great South Road is being widened to provide better motorway on-ramp access for both north and southbound traffic

Great South Road update

Work is continuing on Great South Road to improve traffic flows around and through the Takanini Interchange. The road is being widened and the median traffic islands are being reshaped to improve motorway access. New shared use paths are also taking shape on both sides of the road through the interchange.

In July pavement layers were laid in the widened eastbound lane between Spartan Road and the Stevensons concrete yard. Widening earthworks are continuing from Spartan Road to the southbound off-ramp, following extensive works on the relocation of essential service lines.

Streetside trees along Great South Road have been removed in preparation for the widening of the westbound approach to the southbound on-ramp, which will go ahead during August.

Work is continuing on the southbound off-ramp and on-ramp areas around the Great South Road intersection. Resurfacing will continue on the northbound off-ramp intersection with Great South Road, and off and on-ramp traffic will be separated by a new median barrier.

This intersection is being moved to ease southbound on-ramp access and is expected to be ready for opening in September, weather-permitting.

What’s Coming Up in September

Northern area

• Continuing work in the central median, laying pavement
• Installing concrete median barriers and lighting

Central area

• Work on bridge decks within the median
• Constructing median barriers
• Installing motorway lighting in the central median
• Constructing the northbound shoulder from Pahurehure Inlet Bridge to the Takanini off ramp
• Completing noise walls
• Completing earthworks for the new shared use path

Great South Road (GSR)/Takanini Interchange

• Completing earthworks on GSR eastbound lanes leading to the southbound off-ramp
• Continuing work on pavement layers at the northbound off-ramp intersection with GSR
• Intersection works – earthworks for the southbound on-ramp in preparation for pavements

Southern area

• Continuing works to the eastern approach to the bridge at Pescara Point
• Construction of the bridge across the motorway at Pescara Point
• Paving of southbound motorway lanes across Pahurehure Inlet bridge

For further information

If you have any comments, suggestions or feedback, please contact us via email at southerncorridor@nzta.govt.nz.

We hope you have enjoyed this construction update and we look forward to letting you know more about the construction works for the project.

If you have any questions or queries, please contact our team on free phone 0508 NZTA SCI (0508 6982 724) or at southerncorridor@nzta.govt.nz. And feel free to visit us at the Project Office located at 8-12 Great South Road, Takanini (behind the Gull petrol station).