Northwest motorway and waterview connection

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#1810336 2-Jul-2017 09:02

DarthKermit:

Lucky Aucklanders!

Down here in the sticks (Manawatu), people are calling for a tunnel to bypass the Manawatu gorge (which has been closed since April). Estimated cost of a tunnel is $1.8 billion+, which is more than the Waterview connection. Also, if it was ever built it would be the longest road tunnel in NZ. Ain't gonna happen.

Nah, the Upper Hutt to Featherston road tunnel on SH2 through the Rimutakas has a higher priority :)

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#1810337 2-Jul-2017 09:02

Dingbatt: Be interesting to see how much it cuts off my commute. Does this mean the roadworks on the approaches/exits are also complete? Or will the NW and SW motorways still be closed every weeknight? Maoro to Hillsborough closures will negate the benefit of the tunnel if that is the case.

And by the way, Yay, about bloody time!

from what i saw yesterday its pretty much all done, there is a small bit of seal work to do at the hilsborough exit heading south

old3eyes

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#1810394 2-Jul-2017 12:52

cshwone:

DarthKermit:

Lucky Aucklanders!

Down here in the sticks (Manawatu), people are calling for a tunnel to bypass the Manawatu gorge (which has been closed since April). Estimated cost of a tunnel is $1.8 billion+, which is more than the Waterview connection. Also, if it was ever built it would be the longest road tunnel in NZ. Ain't gonna happen.

Nah, the Upper Hutt to Featherston road tunnel on SH2 through the Rimutakas has a higher priority :)

Nah. Road tunnel under the Kaimias to go with the rail one,

Regards,

Old3eyes

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#1810407 2-Jul-2017 14:27

Goodness... the 80kph stretch after the tunnel goes on and on and on and on...

I spotted quite a few traffic cameras, I guess people will be paying for the tunnel via speeding fines for a long, long time.

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#1810408 2-Jul-2017 14:29

Dunnersfella:
Goodness... the 80kph stretch after the tunnel goes on and on and on and on...

I spotted quite a few traffic cameras, I guess people will be paying for the tunnel via speeding fines for a long, long time.

Didn't you know? That's the trick to stopping congestion!

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sonyxperiageek

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#1810432 2-Jul-2017 15:59

There's a breakdown in the tunnel already! Left lane is now blocked in the meantime.

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tripper1000

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#1810890 3-Jul-2017 13:38

hio77:
Dunnersfella:

Goodness... the 80kph stretch after the tunnel goes on and on and on and on...

I spotted quite a few traffic cameras, I guess people will be paying for the tunnel via speeding fines for a long, long time.

Didn't you know? That's the trick to stopping congestion!

According to the Western Leader (local Rag in West Auckland) the justification for the 80KPH limit was to "avoid confusion". So the speed camera's are there to take photos of confused drivers - the only thing they will be confused about is why a motorway designed and build to safely carry cars at 120 KPH has a 80 KPH limit.

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#1810895 3-Jul-2017 13:41

went through tunnel on the way back from the airport last night, despite the whole way being almost all 80K

one of the fastest trips home!

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RunningMan

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#1810950 3-Jul-2017 14:27

tripper1000: the only thing they will be confused about is why a motorway designed and build to safely carry cars at 120 KPH has a 80 KPH limit.

Looking at the tunnel in isolation from the rest of the motorway feeding it, I can understand the limit inside the tunnel being lower. Visibility is poor compared to outside - you can't see around the bends very far, and there is no safety shoulder or stopping area to pull into for a breakdown or crash. The combination means a stopped vehicle could cause a pretty serious crash very quickly if speeds are too high for a moderately focussed driver to not be able to avoid a stationary vehicle ahead of them - look at some of the crashes you see from Europe on the motorways in fog where the speeds are higher than they should be for the visibility.

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#1810951 3-Jul-2017 14:29

The Waterview tunnel onramp is a stones throw from my driveway, drive to the city at 7.10am, while it was longer in distance it was one of the fastest trip. I did have trouble staying at 80km as it is downhill all the way virtually empty.

I hope the speed camera was not active at that time or I might get an expensive momento from my first drive through.

The 80km rule is just dumb and will cause more issues than it fixes IMHO

I know enough to be dangerous

MikeAqua

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#1810970 3-Jul-2017 14:38

So if travelling through Auckland from South to North am I better to: -

Stay on SH1 all the way through Auckland; or
Or take SH20 from Manukau and then SH16 to rejoin SH1 at Wellsford; or
Or Take SH20 from Manukau, then SH16, then SH18 to rejoin SH1 at Albany?

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old3eyes

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#1810972 3-Jul-2017 14:42

I curious to know what the Airport to AKL CBD is like at say 8.30am via the tunnel compared to the old router via Queenstown road??

Regards,

Old3eyes

RunningMan

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#1810973 3-Jul-2017 14:42

MikeAqua:

So if travelling through Auckland from South to North am I better to: -

Stay on SH1 all the way through Auckland; or
Or take SH20 from Manukau and then SH16 to rejoin SH1 at Wellsford; or
Or Take SH20 from Manukau, then SH16, then SH18 to rejoin SH1 at Albany?

See what Google says at the time, depending on congestion. SH1 would be the shortest and most direct, as long as it was flowing freely (which is a pretty big if!)

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#1810982 3-Jul-2017 14:51

RunningMan:

tripper1000: the only thing they will be confused about is why a motorway designed and build to safely carry cars at 120 KPH has a 80 KPH limit.

Looking at the tunnel in isolation from the rest of the motorway feeding it, I can understand the limit inside the tunnel being lower. Visibility is poor compared to outside - you can't see around the bends very far, and there is no safety shoulder or stopping area to pull into for a breakdown or crash. The combination means a stopped vehicle could cause a pretty serious crash very quickly if speeds are too high for a moderately focussed driver to not be able to avoid a stationary vehicle ahead of them - look at some of the crashes you see from Europe on the motorways in fog where the speeds are higher than they should be for the visibility.

Visibility is poor compared to outside - I disagree, the lighting is excellent and the colours on the walls make it easy for the eyes to adjust.

Visibility is poor compared to outside - you can't see around the bends very far - Again I disagree, there are no sharp bends only a gentle curve you have clear forward view of a few hundred meters.

There is no safety shoulder or stopping area to pull into for a breakdown or crash. - True however most breakdowns are not sudden, you roll to a stop in which case you put on your hazards or keep pumping your beaks to have your break lights flash on and off, the camera operator will close down your lane and lower the speed limit. Withing minutes trucks will be there to tow you out - again not a big issue.

look at some of the crashes you see from Europe on the motorways in fog where the speeds are higher than they should be for the visibility. - I have never been to Europe but there will be no fog in the tunnels so that is not an issue.

The key thing is to drive to the conditions and use common sense.

Regards

John

I know enough to be dangerous

tripper1000

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#1810987 3-Jul-2017 14:56

MikeAqua:

So if travelling through Auckland from South to North am I better to: -

Stay on SH1 all the way through Auckland; or
Or take SH20 from Manukau and then SH16 to rejoin SH1 at Wellsford; or
Or Take SH20 from Manukau, then SH16, then SH18 to rejoin SH1 at Albany?

Option 1 - IMO.

NOT option 2 definitely. SH16 North of Helensville is slow and windy, hilly county road with no overtaking lanes. One camper-van/road maggot and you can be stuffed.

Time may prove me wrong, but I think SH20 & SH18 are more suited for getting from West AK to SH1 (18 Northward or 20 Southward) and intra-Auckland travel, not so much for getting in one side and out the other - except if an incident has broken SH1 of course.

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