The surfacing repairs began in September but the job has become bigger than first thought.
To help ease traffic flows, the southbound Te Kauwhata off-ramphad been re-opened. That would help Te Kauwhata, Rangiriri and Glen Murray motorists who had been detoured to Ōhinewai or were using local roads to access their communities since early last week.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency confirmed work in the southbound lanes would continue this week and was likely to stretch into next week as well.
The current southbound closure was the final large phase in remedial works. There were three separate, smaller repair sites outside the current work areas that would be completed with less traffic management and disruption, a Waka Kotahi spokesperson said.
With the changing layout, people were asked to take extra care when travelling through the interchanges by following any temporary speed limits, traffic management and signs.
When the works were complete a 70km/h speed restriction would remain for a settling period over summer ahead of final surfacing.
People were advised to allow extra time if travelling on that section of the expressway, and merge early into a single lane to help lessen congestion.
