19 Mar 2011

Flooding possible on Auckland motorway network

7:58 am on 19 March 2011

Parts of the Auckland motorway network could flood over the next six days, with unusually high tides expected.

The Transport Agency says the north-western motorway (State Highway 16), and the nearby cycleway are most likely to be affected between the Patiki Road interchange and Rosebank Road.

Unusually high tides of up to 3.6 metres are expected from Saturday until Thursday 24 March.

The agency says the cycleway will definitely flood when the tides peak and it is urging cyclists to avoid using the route until Thursday.

The motorway is only expected to flood if the high tides coincide with bad weather.

The low-lying section of State Highway 16 is to be raised to prevent flooding, as part of the Western Ring Route project.