The new $43 million Haywards Interchange in the Hutt Valley is ready for traffic.
Motorists will start using the interchange at State Highways 2 and 58, north of Wellington, on Saturday or Sunday, depending on the weather, Stuff reports.
The project will not be fully completed until July, after rain delayed sealing and marking work.
People getting on and off State Highway 58 will notice the biggest difference, NZ Transport Agency highways manager Neil Walker says.
“The interchange will function in a similar way to those at Dowse and Mungavin, with those wanting to change from State Highway 2 to State Highway 58, or from 58 to 2 needing to use the on and off ramps,” he says.
“While the interchange layout is new, please be patient. There’ll be plenty of signs to guide you and a lower speed limit will be in place to allow everyone to get used to the new layout.”
The interchange will essentially be an elevated roundabout with a new park-and-ride car park for Manor Park railway station and a pedestrian bridge linking the two. New cycleways heading north and south will be built on either side.
The main benefit of the interchange is that it will remove traffic lights, meaning traffic using SH2 will no longer have to stop for those using the Haywards Hill Rd between the Hutt Valley and Porirua.
