Editorial: Fixing pivotal motorway link worth the hassle

Photo / Brett Phibbs

There have already been plenty of grumbles about the 36-hour closure of all southbound motorway lanes across the Newmarket Viaduct this weekend.

There will be many more if widespread traffic jams occur. One or two criticisms may be justified but, in the main, this is a situation where any inconvenience should be accepted knowing that it will eventually be dwarfed by the benefits of the replacement viaduct.

Much of the criticism has focused on the closure falling at a time that embraces not only Father's Day but a netball international at the Vector Arena and provincial rugby matches at Eden Park and North Harbour Stadium.

It is fair to assume that organisers at the Transport Agency blanched when this was pointed out to them.

But any time would have created problems. Last weekend, no trains would have been available for alternative transport because railway lines were shut down for maintenance and upgrading. Next weekend, Greenlane hosts the popular Auckland Home Show.

It also seems that traffic planners have learned some of the lessons from past closures, not least the gridlock when roadworks were done on the Mangere Bridge four years ago.

This time, plenty of effort and a budget of $100,000 have gone into providing early warning of the viaduct closure. Aucklanders have been bombarded by Facebook or Twitter, emails and more traditional advertising.

Surely, there can be few who are unaware of what is to happen, the potential pitfalls, and the message that they should leave their cars at home where possible or keep trips very localised. The degree of inconvenience will reflect how well people heed that advice.

What is absolutely certain is that the replacement viaduct will be of great benefit to all who use the Southern Motorway, the country's busiest stretch of roading.

The creation of four lanes to Greenlane will substantially improve traffic flow. Additionally, this pivotal piece of transport infrastructure will have much-enhanced stability in the event of an earthquake.

Indeed, the potential impact of the closure says much about the fragility of the region's motorway network. The $215 million viaduct project is an important part of the process of remedying that.

The Transport Agency's advice to motorists to use the western ring route between Albany and South Auckland during the closure conveys a similarly encouraging message.

Using that option has been much enhanced by the direct motorway-to-motorway link between State Highways 20 and 1 at Manukau, which was opened last weekend. Such developments underline Auckland's progress towards a capable and coherent motorway system.

So, too, does the fact that the final link for the western route, the partly tunnelled Waterview project, has been placed on a fast track for resource consent hearings.

Probably the most vocal critic of the closure has been the Newmarket Business Association. Yet even it will not find this weekend a total write-off.

The motorway will not be closed until 5pm on Saturday, when the giant blue lifting gantry that has dominated the Newmarket skyline since the start of the year begins its move. A full Saturday's shopping will still be available.

Indeed, Newmarket retailers should perhaps be grateful that such a major project has meant so little disruption. Those who venture out on to the roads should be armed with a similar sense of perspective.