State Highway 20B Early Improvements Project Update

6 November2020

Kia ora koutou,

State Highway 20B Project Updates keep you up-to-date with project progress and upcoming physical works on State Highway 20B.

Upcoming weekend closures in November

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and Auckland International Airport Limited are working to upgrade State Highway 20B to provide better and more reliable travel options with a new shared path and additional priority lanes between Pukaki Creek Bridge and State Highway 20.

We are planning to close State Highway 20B (SH20B) to through-traffic between the Tom Pearce SH20B roundabout and the SH20 Interchange for two consecutive weekends in November to allow essential work to proceed that cannot take place safely during normal working hours. Detours will be in place. These weekends include

• 9pm, Friday 13 November to 5am, Monday 16 November
• 9pm, Friday 20 November to 5am, Monday 23 November. 

Manukau Memorial Gardens will remain open, and resident/business access to Campana and Prices Roads will be available from the eastern approach to SH20B.

Access to cyclists and walkers will also be maintained throughout the weekend.

During the closures the 380 Airporter bus service will be detoured along alternative routes. Some delays can be expected during this time. Please plan ahead and use the journey planner for up-to-date travel times.

For more information on the road closures and alternative routes, please visit www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/southwest-gateway/20connect.

We apologise in advance for any inconvenience and will use best industry practices to minimise disruption.

Waka Kotahi is proposing a safer speed limit of 60km/h replacing the current 100km/h zone in SH20B

Public consultation ends at 5pm, Sunday 8 November

The public consultation on a speed limit review and a new bylaw on bus/T3 lanes is under way and will end this Sunday.

You can provide feedback or comments on the proposed speed limit change and the new bus/T3 lanes by visiting nzta.govt.nz/projects/southwest-gateway/20connect to complete the survey. 

(Photos: Leo Comesky) SH20B staff gather for a group session on safety led by Richard Anthony, Fulton Hogan Contracts Manager

Living Safely

Last Friday the SH20B project team and associated industry folk gathered at the Mangere Central Community Hall to spend time focussing on safety and team resilience.
The SH20B work site stretches along SH20B between the  interchange with SH20 and Pukaki Creek Bridge and is operational up to 19 hours in a 24 hour period, involving more than 100 staff over that time.

Given the often hard physical works around many different types of large construction machinery and in challenging ground and weather conditions, the message and meaning behind the call for `Living Safely’ was explored. It is an expectation that reaches beyond our personal responsibilities in the day to day tasks of construction work, making safety a central aspect of our lives both on and off site.

Sheenal Prasad: SH20B Site Engineer

Introducing Sheenal Prasad – Site Engineer, SH20B

Sheenal Prasad started working for Fulton Hogan as a Traffic Controller back in 2015 while still studying at University. At this time she fell in love with roading and quickly changed her major to civil engineering. Sheenal continued working for Fulton Hogan as an intern during the summer holidays and part time throughout the university semesters. She joined Fulton Hogan’s graduate programme as part of the team maintaining the roads in West Auckland.

In January Sheenal started at SH20B and her first task was to help establish the site office and facilities. Sheenal says “no two days are the same ever here, even doing the same activity. There are days which are full of highs when a task is successfully completed, and low days when things don’t go to as planned, but it’s all part of the learning curve.”

“When I started all I asked for was exposure to the industry, to understand what Fulton Hogan does and to experience it all. So I’m honestly grateful for the opportunities given and people I have worked with throughout my journey. Getting to experience all areas of construction in this project!”

Contact us

Please call us at 0800 796 796 or email sh20B@nzta.govt.nz if you have any questions about the SH20B Early Improvements project.

Project overview

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and Auckland International Airport Limited are upgrading State Highway 20B for better and more reliable travel options with a new shared path and additional priority lanes between Pukaki Creek Bridge and State Highway 20.

This project will integrate with improved transport facilities within the airport precinct along SH20B and at the upgraded Puhinui Station Interchange.

The project is the first step of the Southwest Gateway programme to provide better public transport, walking and cycling facilities with safer and more efficient freight movements to, from and around Southwest Auckland.

Fulton Hogan undertakes this work on behalf of Waka Kotahi.

Key early improvements on State Highway 20B to be delivered by 2021 include:

• A safe place for people to walk and ride bikes
• Safety improvements including central median barrier protection, improved lighting and a reduced speed
• Improved pavement, drainage and stormwater treatment
• Two improved intersections at Campana Road and Manukau Memorial Gardens.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency works to create transport solutions for all New Zealanders – from helping new drivers earn their licences, to leading safety campaigns to investing in public transport, state highways and local roads.

For more information on the project, you can also visit our website at www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/southwest-gateway/20connect/