Guest blog by Lisa Inder, NZTA
Kia ora, it’s Lisa Inder here representing the NZ Transport Agency and the Lincoln Road Interchange project. I just want to give you a bit of an update and let you know that work to build a new motorway bridge – complete with enhanced cycling and walking facilities – over the Henderson Creek is now in full swing.
We’re working closely with Barbara and CAA to ensure there’s minimal disruption for cyclists during the works, but in a couple of week’s time you will notice some minor access changes in the area. During construction of the new bridge’s westbound lanes, a temporary pathway next to the old one will be established. This path, which will be in use for about a year, is a little narrower so we ask you to please share the area with care.
We also ask that you please be prepared to slow down and stop at a few give way signs that will be positioned along the route. These signs will be in place so construction vehicles can safely access site and you can be kept safely from harms way. We don’t expect to ask you to stop very often, but we want to raise awareness about this possibility and err on the side of caution.
For those of you keen to know more, the NZTA website has more info including a map showing the location of the temporary route, which can be found here (second page of PDF).
Also, for those of you who are interested in bridge construction, here’s a link to the page with the Henderson Creek Bridge construction phases. Basically, we’ll be building the outer lanes first so we can keep traffic moving on the inside lanes, then we’ll switch traffic onto the outside lanes so we can demolish and replace the middle lanes. All the while, we’ll be doing our best to minimise disruption for everyone – on and off the road. It’s very similar way of doing things to the Newmarket Viaduct build. We aim to have the entire bridge completed in early 2015.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation and courtesy while journeying through the area and if you come across any issues, or see any ways we could make things safer, please feel free to contact me.
Hei kona mai (goodbye for now)
[Editor’s note: Thank you Lisa – much appreciated that the project team found a solution to accommodate cyclists on the bridge despite the complex construction works! And of course we are all looking forward to seeing the narrow clip-on replaced with a wider permanent walking/cycling path.]
