Road closures set for downtown Auckland on weekend

Between Diwali and Rugby World Cup quarter-finals, officials expect more crowds downtown Auckland this weekend and are closing several streets. Photo / File

Downtown Auckland faces a rash of road closures throughout this weekend - including part of Queen St - as the colourful Indian Diwali Festival competes with Rugby World Cup fever.

Auckland Transport says it has closed a block of the Golden Mile between Wakefield St and Mayoral Drive until Monday morning to cater for large crowds gathering at Aotea Square for what is also known as the Hindu Festival of Lights.

That is on top of the regular weekend closures of a large section of Quay St and other thoroughfares around the Queens Wharf rugby fan zone, which has meant the temporary relocation of many bus stops.

New fan zones will also open at Wynyard Quarter and Mangere from 2pm and at Henderson, Mangere and Albany from 3pm for the World Cup quarter finals matches.

Public transport and roads between central Auckland and Eden Park are expected to be particularly busy before tomorrow's match between England and France, and Sunday's contest between the All Blacks and Argentina.

So will the 4.5km fan trail along which matchgoers will amble past the Diwali festivities on their way to the games via Myers Park and Karangahape Rd.

Eden Park's gates will open at 6pm Saturday and Sunday before the rugby kicks off there at 8.30pm, and semi-finals matches starting in Wellington at 6pm will be shown on large screens at the ground.

Special event buses, which will be free to World Cup ticket-holders, will leave Britomart for the stadium from 4.30pm and rugby trains will run from 5.30pm.

Buses will also run from 5.30pm from outside the Civic Theatre in Queen St and from Albany, Takapuna, Newmarket and Manukau.

Road closures and parking restrictions will be in place around Eden Park from three hours before the Auckland games, although limited disability parking will be available in Bellwood Rd.

But Auckland Transport is in the novel position of acknowledging that driving and leaving cars in its parking buildings may be the best option for some people heading to the downtown fan zones or the Diwali celebrations.

It also expects that most people travelling to local fan zones will drive, because of the availability of parking nearby.

Whichever way people chose to travel around Auckland this weekend, the council organisation urges them to allow plenty of time for their trips and to be prepared for delays.

* On the web - for road closure information: www.aucklandtransport.govt.nz

- for public transport information: www.maxx.co.nz