News & Media Releases

Patience requested during Bypass changes

14 December 2006

Access from Willis Street to Abel Smith Street (east) has been permanently closed as part of the Inner City Bypass project, and Wellington motorists are being asked to be patient as changes occur to roads in the Bypass vicinity during upcoming weeks.

Transit New Zealand project manager Jonnette Adams said the road was kept open for as long as possible during the construction of the new bypass intersection with Willis and Abel Smith Streets, but has been closed this week for the installation of  new traffic signals.

As a consequence of this closure, traffic flow along upper Willis Street is heavier than usual and Transit is asking motorists to please be patient and allow more time for their journey during the next few weeks.

"The new northbound route will open in two weeks time on Thursday 28 December, so congestion will ease considerably as northbound traffic will no longer be travelling along upper Willis Street to the current Vivian Street on-ramp," she said.

Motorists who have previously used Abel Smith Street (east) will still need to continue using Ghuznee Street/Victoria Street until the section of Vivian Street between Willis and Victoria Streets has a southbound lane open.

“This is scheduled for four to six weeks' time in mid-late January - which means it will be done by the beginning of the new school year in February," she said.

At the end of the project, when the reversal of the traffic flow on Vivian Street is complete, motorists who have used Abel Smith Street to access Taranaki Street will be able to use Vivian Street instead.

For more information contact:
Jonnette Adams
Project Manager
Transit New Zealand
DDI: 04 496 6598
Email: jonnette.adams@transit.govt.nz

Anthony Frith
Communications Advisor
Transit New Zealand
04 496 5479
Email: anthony.frith@transit.govt.nz

About the Wellington Inner City Bypass

  • The Wellington Inner City Bypass will provide a safer, more efficient route between the southern and eastern suburbs and the northern gateway to Wellington. It will re-route cross-city traffic away from Ghuznee Street and the heart of the inner city and Cuba Street area.
  •  The northbound section is a one-way, two-lane road at ground level, with dedicated turning lanes and a 50km/h speed limit (until just past the Willis Street intersection, heading north, where the speed limit will increase to 80km/h and the road will be gradually lowered beneath Vivian Street).  Existing roads will be altered and redefined, and 700 metres of new road will be constructed along with 1080 metres of new footpath and cycleway.
  • A total of 23 heritage buildings are to be preserved as part of the project at an estimated cost of $3.5 million. Of these, five will remain in place and 18 relocated and restored, with one taken down and reconstructed using materials still in good condition.
  • Buildings of similar age and style will be kept together, preserved and restored with their original orientation and access maintained wherever possible. A historic precinct will be created adjoining Footscray Avenue for those we have to move.
  • Transit will install three new sets of traffic signals, build a new motorway on-ramp at Willis/Abel Smith Streets and move the current motorway off-ramp from Ghuznee Street to Vivian Street. A new link between Cuba Street and Willis Street will also be created.
  • Wellington City Council’s Te Aro Stormwater main will start at the Taranaki St end of Arthur St, progress along the northern side of Arthur St, across Cuba St and along the route of the bypass until Willis Street, where the main has been laid up Palmer Street to Te Aro Park.
  • Construction of the bypass is expected to be completed mid 2007.

 

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