Public flock to see Newmarket viaduct

More than 15,000 Aucklanders are expected to walk or cycle across the newly constructed Newmarket Viaduct today, 18 months into the development of the city's busiest motorway. Three southbound lanes are due to open to traffic next week, but pedestrians were given the chance to see the latest developments in the $215 million project before then.

New Zealand Transport Agency spokesman Gez Johns said more than 2000 people had walked across the bridge in the 45 minutes after 9am and, weather permitting, people would continue to come in droves for the rest of the day.

Before traffic is allowed to use the viaduct, the Southern Motorway, southbound, between Gillies Ave and Greenlane will be closed for up to 36 hours on September 4 and 5, meaning up to 60,000 vehicles will have to be re-routed through local roads.

The closure would cause significant disruptions to commuters, and motorists were advised to take public transport that weekend, Mr Johns said.

A fourth southbound lane should be completed by early 2011 and construction of new northbound lanes and demolition of the old northbound bridge is expected to be completed by 2012.

Mr Johns said the development would ease a lot of the frustration that comes from commuting over the viaduct in peak-hour traffic, as well as allowing progressive development of Newmarket.

"Previously this end of Newmarket has been a bit of an untidy mix of secondhand car dealerships and car parks so the long term vision for the project is to create a stronger, more sustainable bridge that will actually allow for better development underneath and allow the spirit of Newmarket to continue a little but further up Broadway."

- NZPA