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Mangere Bridge residents will no longer be able to drive directly east, across the Southwestern Motorway towards Middlemore and Otahuhu, until a new traffic bridge is ready in almost a year.
The Transport Agency is building the new Rimu Rd bridge to Mahunga Drive because the existing structure will be too narrow to reach across an enlarged motorway, which is being widened from two lanes to four lanes in each direction, between Manukau Harbour and Walmsley Rd.
That means traffic from Mangere Bridge will have to head south down Coronation Rd to cross the motorway along Walmsley Rd for the next 11 months.
But a lane will remain on the existing bridge for westbound traffic, which will be moved to the new structure as soon as it is partially built.
The new bridge is being built as part of the $230 million Manukau duplicate crossing project, which also involves widening the motorway north to Queenstown Rd.
Traffic heading across the harbour from Mangere Bridge will still be able to use the northbound on-ramp to the motorway in the meantime, and delivery trucks and other vehicles travelling in the opposite direction from Auckland will be able to reach Mahunga Drive's industrial estate.
Transport Authority's Peter Spies says the replacement Rimu Rd bridge will feature dedicated cycle lanes, a wider footpath and pedestrian safety barriers.
