Southern Motorway lanes to close from 5pm

Northbound lanes on the Southern Motorway between Market Rd and Gillies Ave will be shut for three days from 5pm tonight until 8am on Monday, Auckland Anniversary Day. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Motorists can expect delays over the long weekend as final work is carried out on the Southern Motorway to make the trip into Auckland city more reliable, safer and faster.

Northbound lanes the between Market Rd and Gillies Ave will be shut for three days from 5pm tonight until 8am on Monday, Auckland Anniversary Day.

The work is part of the northbound viaduct project.

Southbound lanes on the Southern Motorway will not affected.

Travel delays were inevitable, and drivers were urged to to stay away from the affected sections in Remuera, Greenlane and Newmarket if possible or to use detours, said NZ Transport Agency spokesman Ewart Barnsley.

"There is no good time to do something like this. We want to deliver it as soon as possible," he said.

The closures will allow motorway's northbound lanes to be switched across to the new viaduct.

More than 160,000 vehicles used the viaduct every day and the project aimed to improve that journey for motorists, said Mr Barnsley.

"It's more reliable journey times, the journey is safer and when we finish the work it will be faster."

Construction was up to five weeks ahead of schedule and NZTA wanted to take advantage of the three-day weekend to get it finished as soon as possible, said Mr Barnsley.

A lifting gantry will also be moved on to the existing northbound viaduct to help with demolition.

Mr Barnsley suggested motorists take the North Western Motorway or go through Orakei or along Tamaki Drive to get to the city.

* For full details about detours and alternative routes see: nzta.govt.nz or facebook.com.