Delays continue for Shore commuters

By SCOTT MacLEOD

Commuters heading back to work today across the Auckland Harbour Bridge face delays because of roadworks on city-bound lanes.

One of the bridge's two eastern clip-on lanes was due to be reopened early today, after three weeks of roadworks, but Transit New Zealand still expects a snarl-up for southbound traffic.

Rush-hour clogging is expected to worsen over the next five weeks until the other lane and Shelly Beach off-ramp are reopened on February 14.

Transit regional asset manager Philip Sutton said the jam would be worst in St Marys Bay and at the intersections of Fanshawe and Beaumont Sts, because of the closure of the off-ramp.

Closing the off-ramp alone will feed up to 12,000 more vehicles each day into Fanshawe and Cook Sts, unless motorists opt for alternatives. Mr Sutton said options included driving off-peak, on the Northwestern Motorway, or taking public transport.

A right-hand-turn lane has been installed at the Fanshawe-Beaumont intersection to help ease the crush.

The Shelly Beach off-ramp has been closed so it can be chopped up and jacked to the east, making room for an extra lane to be built from the Harbour Bridge into the city.

The new lane will eventually form part of a planned North Shore Busway.

The $3 million project has been timed to coincide with the holiday period's low traffic volumes.

* Updates are available for motorists on freephone 0800 RESEAL.

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