New Eastbound Off-ramp Opens: Auckland's North Shore

Caryn Wilkinson Reporter from Community News

A new eastbound off-ramp from state highway 18 has opened at Paul Matthews Rd on Tuesday.

All east bound traffic will now drive through a new intersection at the road.

Under the new layout, drivers have to turn right at new traffic lights on the off-ramp to head to Unsworth Heights, state highway 1 at Constellation Drive or to East Coast Bays.

"This is a significant change to how people move around and as expected, we have seen queues on the off-ramp during the morning peak as everyone gets used to the new road layout," said Waka Kotahi national manager of infrastructure delivery Andy Thackwray.

“We’re advising that delays during peak hours will likely continue while people adjust to these changes and we’re asking people to plan ahead and allow extra time to travel.”

The transport agency has encouraged drivers to avoid state highway 18 and use alternative routes where possible as they get used to the changes.

People travelling from west Auckland to the city can use state highway 16 instead.

The number of vehicles using the off-ramp will decrease when the northbound connection between state highway 18 and state highway 1 opens in about 18 months, Waka Kotahi said.

The change in layout paves the way for construction of the new motorway lanes and shared paths, the agency said.

A transport upgrade will see the Northern Busway extended from Constellation to Albany Station.

It includes a new motorway connection between state highway 1 and state highway 18 and will access the western ring route, along with travel to Auckland International Airport.

It will deliver more than 7 km of walking and cycling paths, road and park connections.

Work is expected to be completed by the end of 2022.

Go to Auckland Northern Corridor project page or phone 0800 624 776 for more information.