NZTA closing toll road tunnels for safety maintenance

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The NZ Transport Agency will close the Northern Gateway Toll Road on State Highway 1 north of Auckland overnight on Tuesday, 16 August, for the regular maintenance of safety equipment in the Johnstones Hill tunnels.

The full closure for north and south bound traffic between the Orewa interchange and Puhoi will operate from 10.30pm to 5.30am the next morning (Wednesday, 17 August).  

“We regret any disruption to drivers, but the closure is necessary so that we can ensure equipment will do its job properly if there is an emergency inside the tunnels,” says the NZTA’s State Highways Manager for Auckland and Northland, Tommy Parker. 

Detour routes are longer than the toll road, and Mr Parker says drivers should allow more time for their journeys.

There are different detours for light vehicles and for trucks:-

  • Light vehicles:  SH17 between Puhoi and the Orewa interchange at Grand Drive; SH17 between Puhoi and the Silverdale interchange
  • Trucks: SH17 between Puhoi and the Silverdale interchange

The NZTA reminds truck drivers that by-laws prevent them using the Orewa (Grand Drive) route.

Safety checks are conducted twice a year. To minimise the disruption to drivers, the NZTA is compressing this week’s programme of work into a single night instead of spreading it over two.

“This work is an important part of our maintenance programme to keep the tunnels and the toll roads in a good and safe condition for all drivers,” Mr Parker says.  

The maintenance will be conducted by the Auckland Motorway Alliance, which is responsible for the operation of the 220 kilometre Auckland motorway network.

For updates and information about these works, or any other motorway issues please call Auckland Motorways on 09 5200 200.

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