Heavy vehicle restrictions through the Auckland Airport precinct is one of a number of changes being made to improve travel times.
The changes, with the backing of National Road Carriers, come in time for the summer peak period from December to January which sees the greatest volume of traffic in the area.
The new restriction on transiting heavy vehicles weighing more than 3500kg is a key part of the planned improvements.
The restriction will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week but only affects transiting heavy vehicles using George Bolt Memorial Drive and Tom Pearce Drive as a thoroughfare to connect from State Highway 20A to State Highway 20B.
It will exclude heavy vehicles that have a destination within the airport precinct.
A new, direct north to south connection at Nixon Road (via State Highway 20A and 20B), will enable drivers to bypass the busy main intersection at George Bolt Memorial Drive and Tom Pearce Drive.
The 920-metre route will be open by early November 2018 and will be named Altitude Drive.
Other improvements include:
*A new drop and ride service will be established for passengers to be dropped-off away from the terminal forecourts before taking a free bus to the terminals.
*The introduction of signal meters at the Jimmy Ward Crescent roundabout to help better manage the flow of traffic in and out of the airport precinct.
*The introduction of an integrated operating plan with the Auckland Transport Operations Centre to oversee and better manage network operations.
*The operation of a T2 transit lane on Tom Pearce Drive to help improve journey times for vehicles and increase the frequency of buses servicing the airport precinct.
*Implementing a travel rewards promotion to encourage people working within the airport precinct to use public transport.
*Upgrading the domestic terminal forecourt to include a new colour coded pick-up/drop-off zone.
Auckland Airport development and delivery general manager André Lovatt says the initiatives “play an important role in helping improve the way passengers, employees and freight move around the airport precinct”.
“They will improve traffic flows and travel times, enhance the management of the transport network during peak hours as well as providing greater choice and flexibility for how people get to and from the airport precinct.
“Work on these new initiatives is already under way and they are scheduled to be operational by November 2018.
“We’re investing more than $100 million between now and 2022 to upgrade our transport network as part of our 30-year vision to build the airport of the future.
“These new initiatives in our precinct’s transport infrastructure also support the ongoing collaborative efforts between NZ Transport Agency, Auckland Transport and Auckland Airport to improve the transport network in and around the airport area,” Lovatt says.
The airport also consulted with National Road Carriers on the project including the plan to restrict transiting heavy vehicles.
National Road Carriers chief executive David Aitken says the changes “will provide a reliable route for heavy vehicles while improving travel times over the transport network”.
“The new Nixon Road Connection will provide a reliable alternative route for transiting heavy vehicles and motorists to avoid the central airport precinct and ensures road freight can still provide quick and safe delivery of goods to customers and suppliers in the region,” Aitken says.
Auckland Airport will also begin upgrading its transport network with its new Northern Network project in the first half of 2019.
The work involves construction of a new terminal exit road from the airport, the widening of George Bolt Memorial Drive and the extension of the newly installed Altitude Drive that will allow vehicles to head south to north bypassing the main intersection at George Bolt Memorial Drive and Tom Pearce Drive.
