Ngauranga to Aotea Quay upgrade progress
This page is where you’ll find the latest progress updates for the Ngauranga to Aotea upgrade project.
Work is now underway to create New Zealand’s first ever 'smart motorway'.
On this page:
- Latest construction videos
- Construction programme
- Widening State Highway 2 off-ramp at Ngauranga
- NtAQ construction updates
Latest construction videos
SH2 gantry timelapse - 2 August 2015
Installing a SH1 cross-motorway gantry over two nights on 29 July and 1 August
SH1 gantry timelapse - 3 August 2015
Installing the project's first of three new truss gantries into place on the SH1 southbound flyover, between Ngauranga and Aotea Quay.
For more project videos visit our YouTube account
Construction programme
View a larger version
The physical work includes:
- upgrading the Active Traffic Management System (ATMS)
- adding another northbound lane between the Aotea on-ramp and the Ngauranga Gorge / State Highway 2 intersection (within existing motorway footprint)
- replacing 3km of central median barrier
- widening the State Highway 2 off-ramp at Ngauranga
- installing a ramp meter (or signals) on the SH2 on-ramp. Ramp signals are essentially traffic lights that manage traffic flow from two-lane on-ramps onto the motorway during peak periods and other busy times. The signals operate only when they are needed to improve traffic flows; at all other times they stay off. Widely used internationally, ramp signals have been shown to reduce congestion and improve traffic flows on the main route, resulting in more consistent travel times, safer merging and fewer accidents
- installing new truss (steel lattice) and portal (tubular) gantries
- building a new southbound on-ramp for emergency services at Ngauranga.
The result will be New Zealand’s first ever ‘smart motorway’.
Widening State Highway 2 off-ramp at Ngauranga
We’re upgrading the SH2 off-ramp that leads to the Jarden Mile intersection.
The road space will be widened to provide extra stacking space for vehicles. Work includes:
- relocating the walking and cycling path for approximately six weeks while drainage is upgraded
- converting the (reverse direction) slip lane into an extra lane
- resurfacing and remarking road surface
- installing new kerbing and edge barrier
- upgrading street lighting
- adding more plants (ground cover and flax).
Timing
The work will begin in February 2016 and is due to be completed in March.
Before and after layouts
NtAQ construction updates
5 February 2016Motorway closures
We’re planning more full closures of Wellington’s urban motorway in early March to install new cross-motorway steel gantries (the structures that house the electronic signs), variable message signs, and to remove one redundant gantry. The motorway will be closed in both directions between Ngauranga and Thorndon for up to nine hours at a time.
We’ll also install one new gantry and more electronic signs on State Highway 2 just north of Ngauranga in early April (date TBC). Traffic will be down to one lane with a very short complete closure (details being finalised).Central median barrier
The concrete median barrier extruding machine has been back on site. It has worked through the nights and built another 650m of new barrier. The temporary concrete barriers will leap-frog next week extending to the southern-most part of our project. The barrier machine will be back on site in late March to complete the last 450m of barrier.
SH2 off-ramp at Ngauranga
Work on the off-ramp was delayed but is now underway. It includes widening the off-ramp to provide more vehicle stacking space. The speed limit is reduced on the off-ramp and lanes are narrowed to provide space for the work to take place. Work is programmed to be finished in late March. The off-ramp will be closed overnight for four nights in late March when it’s resealed and re-marked.
Gantry bases Work will shortly begin building concrete gantry bases on State Highway 2, just past Ngauranga. The base near the maintenance bay on the northbound side of the highway will be built first, and then work will begin on the southbound one a couple of weeks later.Resealing State Highway 2 northbound between Ngauranga to Petone
As part of the Transport Agency’s maintenance contract, Capital Journeys will reseal the northbound lanes of State Highway 2 between Ngauranga and Petone overnights starting 21 February. Work is expected to take 13 nights depending on weather conditions.
| 6 November 2015 | |
|---|---|
Motorway closures | We’re planning four full closures of Wellington’s urban motorway on 14, 15, 28 and 29 November. The closures are to allow cranes access to install four new cross-motorway steel gantries (the structures that house the electronic signs), one extra variable message sign, and remove one redundant gantry. The motorway will be closed in both directions between Ngauranga and Thorndon for up to nine hours at a time. Find out more here . |
Central median barrier | The concrete median barrier extruding machine has been back on site for two weeks. It has worked through the nights and built another 100m of new barrier. Recent bad weather has meant the machine has lost a few nights’ production and we hope it’ll catch up and complete another 1-200m before it has to leave. The extruding machine is due back on site in January. The temporary concrete barriers will leap-frog next week extending the work site south. |
SH2 off-ramp | Widening of the SH2 off-ramp at Ngauranga is underway. The speed limit is reduced on the off-ramp and it’s narrowed to provide space for the work to take place. The cycling/pedestrian path is now diverted for up to six weeks. The work is programmed to be finished before Christmas. |
Street lighting | Replacing the existing halogen bulbs with more natural, lower energy LED bulbs on the motorway is progressing. Bulbs will also be replaced in the SH2 off-ramp underpass. |
| 10 September 2015 | |
Motorway closures | We’re planning three full closures of Wellington’s urban motorway during November (dates to be confirmed). The closures are to allow cranes access to install four new cross-motorway steel gantries (the structures that house the electronic signs), one extra variable message sign, and remove one redundant gantry. The motorway will be closed in both directions between Ngauranga and Thorndon for up to nine hours at a time. More information will follow when plans are confirmed. |
Aotea on-ramp bridge | The barriers, which will mark out the edge of the new alignment are being installed in their new locations. The abutment is being back-filled. |
Central median barrier | The new concrete barrier is now 39% complete. The extruding machine will be back on site in mid-October to continue. Demolition of the steel barrier has gone as far as it can go until the traffic lanes are realigned to make space for the work site; this is likely to occur mid-September. |
SH2 off-ramp | Work is due to begin widening the SH2 off-ramp at Ngauranga. The speed limit will be reduced on the off-ramp and it’ll be narrowed to provide space for the work to take place. The cycling/pedestrian path will be temporarily re-routed during the first stage of the work. The work is programmed to take three months. |
Street lighting | Street lights are being replaced with more natural, lower energy LED bulbs. In most cases, new bulbs will be installed onto existing posts but 14 new posts will be installed at the Ngauranga end of the site. The work is due to begin in late September and is programmed to take two months. |
| 13 August 2015 | |
Motorway closures | The first series of motorway closures were held in early August. Four new gantries were installed and the old off-ramp at Kaiwharawhara was successfully connected to the main Thorndon Overbridge structure. |
Bridge works | Barriers are being installed in their new locations. The bridge will re-surfaced later in the year and become part of the new northbound lane. |
Gantries | The lane control signs on the new gantry on the SH1 southbound lanes at the Ngauranga flyover will be turned on in late August. The existing stand-alone electronic variable speed signs will then be removed. |
Barrier replacement | The concrete barrier extruding machine is back on site. It’s going in a northerly direction this week and will then turn south and continue for approximately two more weeks to complete 500m of barrier. The machine has to switch direction because the southbound and northbound lanes at that location are at different levels and the machine can only extrude barrier on one side. |
Emergency stopping areas | The ESA at CH2100 has been sealed and foundations for the new LED lighting columns installed. |
Southbound emergency on-ramp | Drainage work is complete. Sealing will begin soon. |
SH2 off-ramp | Work is due to begin widening the SH2 off-ramp at Ngauranga in late August. The speed limit will be reduced on the off-ramp and it’ll be narrowed to provide space for the work to take place. The cycling/pedestrian path will be temporarily re-routed during the first stage of the work. The work is programmed to take three months. |
| 25 June 2015 | |
Motorway closures | A series of eight overnight motorway closures is planned for August. They’ll last between four and 12 hours. Dates are subject to change due to weather or other unforeseen events, but at this stage are planned for: Evenings of August Sat 1, Sun 2, Mon 3. Then Sun 23, Mon 24, Tues 25, Thurs 27 and Sun 30. |
Bridge works | The northern span was successfully first ‘pushed’ 1m towards the Thorndon Overbridge. The next push is planned for 7 July. The bank to the north of the bridge has been removed and is being prepared for sealing to become part of the new northbound lane. |
Gantries | Laying ducting and cabling for the ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems) continues in preparation for the gantries to be erected during August. |
Barrier replacement | Drainage work and barrier removal continues for the barrier replacement machine to arrive back on site in mid-July. |
Emergency stopping areas | Earthworks have been completed on the first ESA at CH2100. Weather depending it will be sealed over the next couple of weeks. |
Southbound emergency on-ramp | Site established, initial earthworks completed, drainage works to get underway soon. |
SH2 off-ramp | Work is due to begin widening the off-ramp and intersection at Ngauranga in August. |
| 28 May 2015 | |
Barrier replacement | The second run of new barrier extrusion is underway this week. By the end of this run, approximately 600m of new barrier will be place. |
Bridge works | The Kaiwharawhara Bridge stub has been successfully lifted from three of its four abutments and is being held on temporary supports while new foundations are built (see the timelapse photos of a lift on our YouTube channel [link]. The bridge will be slid to its new position in early July and then connected by concrete to the main Thorndon Overbridge structure. The concrete pour, likely to occur in mid-July, will require the northbound lanes of the motorway to be closed for up to 12 hours to reduce vibration and allow the concrete to reach a certain strength. The closure will be advertised and detours will be in place. |
Gantries | Building barriers around the gantry bases is now complete. Plans are being made to remove existing gantries for refurbishing and installation of new gantries. This will require partial and full motorway closures. Closures will be advertised and detours will be in place. |
Resurfacing | The planned resurfacing has been delayed until later in the year. |
| 20 April 2015 | |
Barrier replacement | Screens have been installed on the central median barrier in the area where crews are working to reduce driver distraction. The northernmost temporary barriers have now been ‘leap-frogged’ to the southern end of the barrier work-zone. The existing barrier for the next section has been removed and work has begun on installing new drainage. The barrier extruding machine will be back on site in May. |
Bridge works | The team will next week lift the bridge from its original foundations and it will be held on temporary structures while new permanent foundations are built. |
Gantries | Installation of the barriers around the newly built gantry bases continues after being delayed by bad weather. |
For older updates take a look at our construction updates in the Smart Info tab.