Transmission Gully, the long-awaited $1.25 billion motorway out of Wellington, is finally expected to open this week.
The four-lane road has been bogged down with delays, construction defects and budget blowouts.
After a "huge amount of work" on the project over the summer, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has said it's now confident the road has reached a stage where it is safe for public use.
It has instructed the contractor to open the road to traffic by the endof March, which means by this Thursday at the latest.
Traffic travelling in different directions will be fully separated by median barriers, there are interchanges rather than intersections, and no walking or cycling is allowed.
The new motorway will take people through parts of the region they might not be familiar with, so Waka Kotahi has advised motorists to keep their eyes on the road.
"We know it may be tempting to sight-see along the route, but as with all motorways, there is no stopping anywhere on the road, except in an emergency."
Parts of the new motorway are located high in the hills and can be affected by strong winds, fog, and even snow or ice in winter. People need to remember to drive to the conditions and adjust their speed accordingly.
