Auckland traffic: Northern motorway to be closed from 9pm to repair damage

Auckland’s North Expressway will be completely closed from 9pm tonight for urgent repairs to damage caused by highway contractors.

The closure of State Highway 1 between Greville Rd and Upper Harbor on the North Shore is due to road construction work going wrong, and is already causing significant delays for commuters during rush hours.

The right-hand lanes in both directions are currently closed, with only two lanes open each way, causing “long delays” in both directions, the Waka Kotahi NZ Transportation Agency warned motorists.

Starting at 9:00 p.m. M., All lanes in both directions will be closed from SH1 Upper Harbor Highway to Greville Rd Interchange.

Motorists are urged to avoid the highway using local and alternate roads or follow detour signs in the area, NZTA said.

Travel times are already increasing for Auckland drivers.

A trip from Auckland CBD to Westfield Albany Mall, which would generally take around 19 minutes, takes 90 minutes via SH1 at 6pm, according to information on the NZTA website.

The quickest route from downtown to Albany is SH16, where the commute takes 56 minutes instead of the usual 29 minutes.

“Avoid this route if possible or allow considerable extra time.”

The road surface along the two lanes has been raised, causing a significant increase in vehicle speeds, the agency said.

An investigation found that the uneven surface was caused by highway construction crews working under the elevated section of the highway.

“They were pumping grout material that got blocked and seeped under the road surface, causing it to rise.”

Crews will work through the night to repair the road, which is expected to open at 5 am tomorrow.

The repair will involve stripping the road surface, removing the grout material, and then paving with asphalt, NZTA said.