Pictures

 Rt Hon. Prime Minister Helen Clark cuts the ribbon on the new motorway

Mum Joanne Buckingham and son Clay look at the slideshow in the marquee
 

 The dignitaries with the new Upper Harbour Bridge plaque left to right: Mayor of North Shore City Andrew Williams, Transit Regional Manager Peter Spies, Deputy Mayor of Waitakere City Penny Hulse and Rt Hon. Prime Minister Helen Clark

Brenda Coleman, Lions President, in the first vintage car of the parade

Quick Facts:

SH18 Greenhithe Deviation

• Motorway opened to traffic on Friday 7 December
• The final quiet and smooth seal will be laid March/April 2008 after a period to 'bed-in' the road
  
• Construction began in September 2003 and was completed on time in December by DownerEDIWorks, Maunsell Ltd and Opus Consultants Ltd
• Four lane motorway from Paul Matthews Drive in the east, to the beginning of Upper Harbour Bridge in the west

·     Features provision for bus priority lanes in the future

• Features three new bridges and interchanges at Albany Highway , Tauhinu Road and Greenhithe Road
• Albany Highway Interchange:
  • Features 37m long six lane bridge with two spans
  • Provides access for eastbound traffic travelling to join the Northern Motorway (SH1)
  • Provides access for westbound traffic travelling from the North Shore to Waitakere
  • Major entry and exit point for motorists travelling into the Albany industrial area
• Tauhinu Road Interchange:
  • Features 47m long curved bridge with two spans
  • Main western access into Greenhithe from the motorway
  • Motorists from Hobsonville can exit the motorway onto Tauhinu Road and Upper Harbour Drive
  • Motorists from Greenhithe can join the motorway at Tauhinu Road to travel west to Waitakere City and the Northwestern Motorway (SH16)
• Greenhithe Road Interchange:
  • Features 42m long bridge with two spans
  • Motorists travelling from the North Shore can exit the motorway onto Greenhithe Road
  • Motorists travelling from Greenhithe can join the motorway to travel to Albany/SH1
  • Main eastern access into Greenhithe from the motorway

Environmental features:

• Erosion and sediment are strictly controlled by keeping major earthworks only to summer months, which helps minimise disturbance to the environment
• Extensive landscaping has seen 260,000 native plants planted on the earthwork slopes. This assists in re-vegetating the motorway corridor and reducing maintenance of these areas
• 55 native lizards (geckos and skinks) were relocated in 2003 and are being monitored at a nearby reserve in Albany Basin
• All run-off from the motorway is filtered in four permanent stormwater treatment ponds and three other stormwater treatment devices
• A temporary stormwater pond was converted to a permanent stormwater pond and features mini islands for wildlife to co-exist within the wetland
• 1640m of timber noise walls constructed to help reduce noise from the motorway onto the surrounding residential areas. Noise walls feature stencil and painted motif designs of local flora and fauna. Designs help to protect from graffiti and ensure the walls blend in with the natural environment

Upper Harbour Bridge Duplication

• A 458m cantilevered bridge constructed alongside the existing bridge
• Construction began in February 2003 and was completed on time in December 2006 by Fletcher-Beca and Opus Consultants Ltd
• Bridge has been open to traffic since December 2006
• Features a dedicated 3m wide shared path built for pedestrians and cyclists
• Features provision for bus priority lanes in the future
• Included widening existing highway on the approach to the bridge from Hobsonville

• Mudcrete – a mixture of cement and soft marine mud at the site was used to complete the foundations below high-tide level on the bridge. Also used in the construction of the widened causeway at the western end of the bridge
• 1,400 tonnes of cement were added to 14,000 cubic metres of marine mud to produce the material. By using what is already on site, the mudcrete material reduces the need to import and dispose of excess material.