[ad_1]
Motorists are still used to bypassing the Auckland Harbor Bridge and using public transport, despite the successful installation of a temporary repair on a damaged prop.
Half of the bridge’s lanes were closed after a freak accident Friday when two trucks were hit by strong winds, leaving a severely damaged strut.
The lane closures left only two lanes in each direction operational, causing traffic jams on the roads and causing long lines of traffic throughout the region.
A temporary fix was implemented Wednesday morning, allowing two more lanes to be opened.
READ MORE:
* Auckland Harbor Bridge: Permanent repair expected in four to five weeks, says NZTA
* Harbor Bridge Closure – Work on a temporary fix to reopen lanes to start Tuesday
* Damaged Auckland Harbor Bridge: ‘You can’t get out of there forever’
* Auckland Harbor Bridge – Motorists are asked to work from home or avoid the damaged bridge while urgent repair work continues
The New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi reported that the queues south of the bridge were considerably shorter than in the previous mornings after the addition of a third lane.
But a permanent solution is not expected for four to five weeks, as teams work to design and manufacture the replacement part, which means that two lanes will remain closed, leading to further congestion.
The NZTA has reiterated its request for motorists to consider different travel options, including buses and ferries, or the western ring route (SH16 and SH18), to avoid the bridge.
RYAN ANDERSON / Stuff
Motorists heading towards the Auckland Harbor Bridge faced long delays before a temporary fix was installed overnight on Tuesday.
“The bridge is not yet fully operational, two lanes remain closed, and motorists still have to expect queues and delays when crossing the bridge during rush hour,” said general manager of transportation services Brett Gliddon.
Gliddon said that while the lane reopening was good news, the temporary strut on the bridge was still in a compromised state and traffic loads on the bridge should be handled with care.
“This will remain until the permanent solution is in place and the bridge can again support its full weight capacity.”
Heavy trucks were a concern, and the NZTA encouraged heavy vehicles to travel the Western Ring Road.
Chris McKeen / Stuff
Two trucks were caught in a 127 km / ph wind gust on Friday morning.
Meanwhile, Auckland Transport reported an increase in passengers on buses, trains and ferries.
Ferries saw an increase in riders of around 104 percent on Tuesday, compared to the same day last week.
As a result, the service from Devonport to Auckland CBD, whose sponsorship has increased by 123 percent, will run every half hour from 5.45am to 12.00am Monday through Friday.
That is in addition to the 15-minute frequency available from 7.30am to 8.30am during peak travel time Monday through Friday.
Sponsorship of buses and trains also increased 5.4 and 10.5 percent, respectively, in the previous week.
Bus capacity between North Shore and CBD remained plentiful despite the increase.
