Holiday roadworks mean detours

Councils are seizing the chance reduced traffic over the holidays offers to get busy with roadworks. Photo / Wairarapa Times-Age

It's time to dig out the street maps, as councils take the opportunity of reduced traffic flows over the holidays to get on with road maintenance.

Across the Auckland region, bridge replacements, roundabout construction, road realignments and resurfacing mean a series of detours will be in place during summer.

While some of the work is designed to improve residential streets, the longer disruptions are connected to major projects.

And while contractors and councils make every effort to keep detour signs in place, vandalism and weather can make for confusion.

Closures in Onehunga Harbour Rd are associated with the new Mangere Bridge, while those in Franklin Rd and Shelly Beach Rd are part of preparatory work for the Victoria Park Tunnel.

Here are some of the roadworks you may encounter over the next month or so:

Auckland City

Onehunga Harbour Rd: Expected start date Monday, January 18. Closures until February 28, between 11pm and 5am Sunday to Thursday. Detours via Onehunga Mall, Mt Smart Rd, Mt Albert Rd, and eventually to Hillsborough Rd. Closures required while deck segments of the Mangere Bridge are installed.

The ramp from Westhaven Drive to Shelly Beach Rd: At various times between December 26 and January 5. Required for resurfacing the Harbour Bridge southbound clip-ons.

Franklin Rd: Between Scotland St and Victoria St, December 28-29 and 30-31, 8am-8pm, and Victoria St West, between Halsey St and Beaumont St, December 30-31, 9.30pm-8am, as part of Victoria Park Tunnel prep work.

St Jude St level crossing: From 5am Saturday, January 2 to 10pm Sunday, January 3. Required for work on the rail lines.

St Georges Rd level crossing: From 5am on Monday, January 4 to 10pm Sunday, January 10. Required for work on the rail lines.

Khyber Pass Rd: From 9.30pm Tuesday, January 5 to 5am Wednesday, January 6. Part of the Newmarket Western Line rail upgrade.

Franklin District

Harris Rd and John St, Pukekohe: Between 7am January 11 and 5pm February 5, for construction of a roundabout.

Waitakere City

Northwestern Motorway: Ongoing. Needed for construction of a bridge over the motorway at Westgate.

Te Atatu Rd: Between December 14 and mid-February. For pavement reconstruction and road resurfacing. Detours when required via Flanshaw Rd and Royal View Rd.

Sturges Rd: From Tuesday, December 29 to Saturday, January 9. For bridge replacement.