Press Release – New Zealand Transport Agency
The St Mark’s Road onramp to Auckland’s Southern Motorway (State Highway 1) at Newmarket will be closed today, because the new Dilworth Footbridge has been “parked” on the on-ramp, ready for its installation over the motorway lanes tonight.

The NZTA’s Manager of Project Management Services, Tom Newson, says contractors were unable to complete lifting the footbridge into position last night.

“We regret any inconvenience to drivers, but with everyone’s safety as our first priority, we will continue the footbridge installation this evening and plan to re-open the on-ramp tomorrow morning,” Mr Newson says.

Drivers heading south from Auckland who would use St Marks Road are advised to use motorway on-ramps before Gillies Ave or at Greenlane.

This new footbridge is an important part of the completion of the Newmarket Viaduct Replacement Project undertaken by the NGA Newmarket Alliance of NZTA with its partners, Leighton Contractors, Fulton Hogan, VSL, URS, Beca, Boffa Miskell and Tonkin & Taylor. The four year project is due to be completed in December 2012.

Press Release – New Zealand Transport Agency
The NZ Transport Agency will close a section of Auckland’s Southern Motorway (State Highway 1) near the Newmarket Viaduct tonight to complete the installation of a new footbridge across the highway. The six hour-long closure starts at 11pm, and it will affect both north and south bound lanes. Motorway traffic will be diverted between Gillies Avenues and the Greenlane interchange.

The NZTA’s acting State Highways Manager for Auckland and Northland, Steve Mutton, says the closure is scheduled for the time of day when traffic volumes are lightest to minimise and disruption to drivers.

“We regret any inconvenience to drivers, and we appreciate their support as we complete our operation to get the new footbridge safely in to place,” he says.

Work to hoist the 83-tonne main span of the footbridge in to position began yesterday and will be completed this evening.