Central Motorway Junction
Encyclopedia
The Central Motorway Junction or CMJ (best known as Spaghetti Junction and rarely as Central Motorway Intersection), is the intersection of New Zealand State Highways
1 and 16, just south of the central business district of Auckland
, New Zealand
. A multilevel structure (at least three traffic lanes crossing above each other in several locations), it has been described as a "fiendishly complicated, multi-layered puzzle of concrete, steel and asphalt". Carrying around 200,000 vehicles a day, it is one of the busiest stretches of road in New Zealand.
The central motorway junction forms the intersection between the three major motorways of Auckland (Auckland Northern Motorway
(SH1), Auckland Southern Motorway
(SH1), and Northwest Motorway
(SH16)), and also offers several off-ramps for access from these motorways to the city centre. It is principally located in a series of gullies to the south and east of the CBD and in cuttings to the west.
It has somewhat of a hybrid function, falling between a typical ‘X’ interchange and ring road around the city centre. However all linkages are direct and there is no separate ring road as such. The interchange and associated structures encircles the Auckland CBD
on three sides, the Auckland waterfront
to the north forming the fourth 'border' of central Auckland.
Designed in the 1960s, and with most of its links built in the 1970s, the junction was a major project in a scheme that led to the forcible acquisition and demolition of 15,000 dwellings in the inner suburbs, causing 50,000 people to move away from the area when the central motorway network was constructed - with major negative effects on the nearby Auckland CBD
, and especially the Karangahape Road
shopping area, which feel into decline for decades.
The junction was substantially extended (or in a sense, finally completed) in the 2000s, with the final links opened to traffic in December 2006. During the duration of this NZ$208m project, the existing motorways had to be closed several hundred times during nighttime, with traffic rerouted over local roads.
The last of these links (Northwest Motorway eastbound to Auckland Northern Motorway
northbound) officially opened on December 19, 2006, marking the full completion of the junction. Plans have now shiffted further north, with the proposed tunnel at the Victoria Park Viaduct
being the last of a set of three major motorway projects in the area.
In addition, the CMJ includes the primary dedicated city exits from SH1 and SH16 to downtown, Grafton Gully
(being the first of the three large motorway projects, and containing the section of the Northwest Motorway between the Upper Queen Street bridge and The Strand in Parnell
, and the Auckland Southern Motorway
between Symonds Street exit and The Strand), with some five other pairs of ramps giving access to the central area.
A noteworthy structural component of the CMJ is the area underneath Karangahape Rd, where some 19 lanes of traffic forming 9 distinct links pass through a very constrained cutting under the Karangahape ridge on a multi-level structure.
and Albany
. The goal is to provide traffic passing through Auckland, or starting or ending in Auckland's western suburbs, with an alternative high-speed route that bypasses the often congested motorways in central Auckland, including the CMJ.
is as of November 2009 investigating a plan to extend the off-road Northwestern Cycleway
through the intersection, to join it to Symonds Street and achieve better cycle linkages from the west into the Auckland CBD
. In mid 2010, it became public that a preliminary alignment had been chosen, with the cycle path using a facility on the existing Upper Queen Street road bridge to cross the motorway.
New Zealand State Highway network
The New Zealand State Highway network is the major national highway network in New Zealand. Just under 100 roads in both the North and South Islands are State Highways...
1 and 16, just south of the central business district of Auckland
Auckland CBD
The Auckland CBD is the geographical and economic heart of the Auckland metropolitan area. Bounded by several major motorways and by the harbour coastline in the north, it is surrounded further out by mostly suburban areas...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. A multilevel structure (at least three traffic lanes crossing above each other in several locations), it has been described as a "fiendishly complicated, multi-layered puzzle of concrete, steel and asphalt". Carrying around 200,000 vehicles a day, it is one of the busiest stretches of road in New Zealand.
The central motorway junction forms the intersection between the three major motorways of Auckland (Auckland Northern Motorway
Auckland Northern Motorway
The Auckland Northern Motorway is a major motorway in the Auckland Region of New Zealand, linking central Auckland City and Puhoi in the Rodney District, via the Hibiscus Coast and North Shore...
(SH1), Auckland Southern Motorway
Auckland Southern Motorway
The Auckland Southern Motorway is the major route south out of the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is part of State Highway 1....
(SH1), and Northwest Motorway
Northwest Motorway
The Northwestern Motorway , part of State Highway 16 , is the major western route and secondary northern route out of Auckland in New Zealand...
(SH16)), and also offers several off-ramps for access from these motorways to the city centre. It is principally located in a series of gullies to the south and east of the CBD and in cuttings to the west.
It has somewhat of a hybrid function, falling between a typical ‘X’ interchange and ring road around the city centre. However all linkages are direct and there is no separate ring road as such. The interchange and associated structures encircles the Auckland CBD
Auckland CBD
The Auckland CBD is the geographical and economic heart of the Auckland metropolitan area. Bounded by several major motorways and by the harbour coastline in the north, it is surrounded further out by mostly suburban areas...
on three sides, the Auckland waterfront
Auckland waterfront
The Auckland waterfront is a city-side stretch of the southern Waitemata Harbour coastline in Auckland City, New Zealand...
to the north forming the fourth 'border' of central Auckland.
History
Designed in the 1960s, and with most of its links built in the 1970s, the junction was a major project in a scheme that led to the forcible acquisition and demolition of 15,000 dwellings in the inner suburbs, causing 50,000 people to move away from the area when the central motorway network was constructed - with major negative effects on the nearby Auckland CBD
Auckland CBD
The Auckland CBD is the geographical and economic heart of the Auckland metropolitan area. Bounded by several major motorways and by the harbour coastline in the north, it is surrounded further out by mostly suburban areas...
, and especially the Karangahape Road
Karangahape Road
Karangahape Road is one of the main streets in the central business district of Auckland, New Zealand. The massive expansion of motorways through the nearby inner city area - and subsequent flight of residents and retail into the suburbs - turned it from one of Auckland's premier shopping streets...
shopping area, which feel into decline for decades.
The junction was substantially extended (or in a sense, finally completed) in the 2000s, with the final links opened to traffic in December 2006. During the duration of this NZ$208m project, the existing motorways had to be closed several hundred times during nighttime, with traffic rerouted over local roads.
Connections
The Central Motorway Junction provides direct motorway-to-motorway links between the following four routes radiating from the city centre:- Auckland Northern MotorwayAuckland Northern MotorwayThe Auckland Northern Motorway is a major motorway in the Auckland Region of New Zealand, linking central Auckland City and Puhoi in the Rodney District, via the Hibiscus Coast and North Shore...
(SH1) to/from North Shore City via Auckland Harbour BridgeAuckland Harbour BridgeThe Auckland Harbour Bridge is an eight-lane box truss motorway bridge over the Waitemata Harbour, joining St Marys Bay in Auckland with Northcote in North Shore City, New Zealand. The bridge is part of State Highway 1 and the Auckland Northern Motorway... - Auckland Southern MotorwayAuckland Southern MotorwayThe Auckland Southern Motorway is the major route south out of the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is part of State Highway 1....
(SH1) to/from Manukau City and - Northwest MotorwayNorthwest MotorwayThe Northwestern Motorway , part of State Highway 16 , is the major western route and secondary northern route out of Auckland in New Zealand...
westbound (SH16) to/from Waitakere City - Northwest MotorwayNorthwest MotorwayThe Northwestern Motorway , part of State Highway 16 , is the major western route and secondary northern route out of Auckland in New Zealand...
eastbound (SH16) to/from Ports of Auckland and eastern suburbs
The last of these links (Northwest Motorway eastbound to Auckland Northern Motorway
Auckland Northern Motorway
The Auckland Northern Motorway is a major motorway in the Auckland Region of New Zealand, linking central Auckland City and Puhoi in the Rodney District, via the Hibiscus Coast and North Shore...
northbound) officially opened on December 19, 2006, marking the full completion of the junction. Plans have now shiffted further north, with the proposed tunnel at the Victoria Park Viaduct
Victoria Park Viaduct
The Victoria Park Viaduct is a major motorway viaduct carrying the Auckland Northern Motorway over the Victoria Park area in Auckland City, New Zealand...
being the last of a set of three major motorway projects in the area.
In addition, the CMJ includes the primary dedicated city exits from SH1 and SH16 to downtown, Grafton Gully
Grafton Gully
Grafton Gully is a deep and very wide gully cutting northwards through the volcanic hills of the Auckland Volcanic Field in Auckland, New Zealand. It divides the CBD of the city from the suburbs of Grafton and Parnell in the east.Grafton Gully is crossed by Grafton Bridge near its south end...
(being the first of the three large motorway projects, and containing the section of the Northwest Motorway between the Upper Queen Street bridge and The Strand in Parnell
Parnell
Parnell may refer to:People* Bobby Parnell, a baseball pitcher for the New York Mets* Charles Stewart Parnell , Irish politician* Chris Parnell, actor and comedian* Lee Roy Parnell, country & western singer...
, and the Auckland Southern Motorway
Auckland Southern Motorway
The Auckland Southern Motorway is the major route south out of the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is part of State Highway 1....
between Symonds Street exit and The Strand), with some five other pairs of ramps giving access to the central area.
A noteworthy structural component of the CMJ is the area underneath Karangahape Rd, where some 19 lanes of traffic forming 9 distinct links pass through a very constrained cutting under the Karangahape ridge on a multi-level structure.
Alternative routes
The other two major motorways under construction in Auckland, the 'South-Western' and 'Upper Harbour' motorways, will, when completed, form a continuous link in the west of the city, providing an alternative to SH1, between ManukauManukau
Manukau City was a large territorial authority in Auckland, New Zealand. The city was sometimes referred to as South Auckland, but this term did not possess official recognition and did not encompass areas like East Auckland, which was previously within the official boundaries of Manukau City...
and Albany
Albany, New Zealand
Albany is a northern suburb of Auckland, one of the several cities in northern New Zealand. The name derives from Alba and its Latinisation. It is located to the north of the Waitemata Harbour, 15 kilometres northwest of the Auckland city centre. The suburb is in the Albany ward, one of the...
. The goal is to provide traffic passing through Auckland, or starting or ending in Auckland's western suburbs, with an alternative high-speed route that bypasses the often congested motorways in central Auckland, including the CMJ.
Cycle path
The New Zealand Transport AgencyNew Zealand Transport Agency
The New Zealand Transport Agency is a New Zealand Crown entity tasked with promoting safe and functional transport by land, including the responsibility for driver and vehicle licensing and investigating rail accidents. It was created on 1 August 2008 by the Land Transport Management Amendment...
is as of November 2009 investigating a plan to extend the off-road Northwestern Cycleway
Northwestern Cycleway
The Northwestern Cycleway is a 12 km mostly off-road cycle route connecting the Auckland CBD in Auckland City with Henderson, Waitakere City in New Zealand...
through the intersection, to join it to Symonds Street and achieve better cycle linkages from the west into the Auckland CBD
Auckland CBD
The Auckland CBD is the geographical and economic heart of the Auckland metropolitan area. Bounded by several major motorways and by the harbour coastline in the north, it is surrounded further out by mostly suburban areas...
. In mid 2010, it became public that a preliminary alignment had been chosen, with the cycle path using a facility on the existing Upper Queen Street road bridge to cross the motorway.
External links
- Central Motorway Junction (Transit New ZealandTransit New ZealandTransit New Zealand was, from 1989 to 2008, the New Zealand Crown entity responsible for operating and planning the New Zealand State Highway network...
's project website) - CMJ Complete (CMJ entry on Auckland Motorways, a private website)