By Phil Taylor

Copyright times

With a week to go to the official ceremonies to open and celebrate the biggest public infrastructure asset in east Auckland in decades, new photographs of it have been released.

Auckland Transport (AT) and the Eastern Busway Alliance, the constructors of Rā Hihi, the Reeves Road Flyover, have just made available photos of the roadway that will connect the South-Eastern Highway with Pakuranga Road.

The flyover project, which is part of the full multimillion-dollar Eastern Busway public transport project, is due to complete in the coming weeks, with motorists able to use it partially from Wednesday, October 1.

Next Friday, September 26, ceremonies are due to be held to open the Rā Hihi flyover.

The new photos show the end of the flyover project is in sight, with the roadway’s markings freshly painted this week.

AT says Rā Hihi is opening to westward-bound traffic on October 1 and in both directions from October 27.

Before that happens, AT says that major work is necessary on Pakūranga Road at the intersection where it’ll connect with the flyover and that will disrupt traffic while lane layouts change over the next month.

AT group manager Jane Small says the flyover will reduce congestion at one of New Zealand’s busiest intersections – South-Eastern Highway and Ti Rakau Drive – when fully open.

“From Saturday, September 20, to Friday, October 24, there will be fewer lanes on Pakūranga Road to enable Rā Hihi to open.

“The most disruptive work will take place during the school holidays between September 20 and September 27, when there is less traffic.

“Drivers should expect congestion and delays, and we suggest planning ahead to avoid travelling at peak times if possible.

“We will be working round the clock to get the job done.”

Small says AT and its alliance construction partners have worked hard to plan and build the flyover efficiently, resulting in its opening five months ahead of schedule.

For recent Times’ stories about the Eastern Busway project, read:

https://www.times.co.nz/news/reeves-road-flyovers-opening-date-revealed