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Newmarket Viaduct - Source: NZPA Images -
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Transport officials are praising Aucklanders for avoiding major roads this weekend and helping prevent widespread gridlock.
That meant the massive Southern Motorway revamp over Newmarket could be finished and opened 17 hours ahead of schedule.
Southbound traffic is now moving freely across the first half of the new Newmarket Viaduct.
The NZTA had expected the complex work needed to open the new viaduct to take up to 36 hours.
However, the critical element of relocating the 800-tonne Big Blue construction gantry was achieved without a hitch overnight, allowing final paving work to be completed this morning.
NZTA spokesman Andy Knackstedt said the early reopening was a tremendous result for the NZTA, the project team and for Auckland, his team very happy and thankful that Aucklanders listened to their advice.
"The advertised 36 hour closure incorporated a contingency period appropriate to the risk and complexity of the works, however to be able to re-open the motorway by midday today is a fantastic achievement by our highly-skilled construction team."
NZTA Transport spokesman Mark Walker said the weather was good overnight and they were able to move the gantry crane much faster than expected.
There were half as many cars on Auckland roads as on a normal weekend and six times more passengers on trains.
Fewer vehicles on the road meant that the NZTA team had easy access around Newmarket to move trucks and equipment into place during the closure.
The motorway was closed for less than half a day over the entire 21 month construction period.
"We have remained committed to minimising impact across the country's busiest stretch of motorway," Knackstedt said.
Motorists heading south on State Highway 1 are reminded to be aware of the changed motorway layout and visual distractions, and to drive with extra caution as they head across the new southbound Newmarket Viaduct.
And drivers have been reminded that with the Big Blue construction gantry now positioned between the north and southbound lanes, a reduced speed limit of 70 kilometres per hour applies in both directions.
NZTA says it wants Auckland motorists to continue being considerate as it starts taking down the old chunk of motorway.
"They're already pulling up some of the surface of the old Viaduct, and I think it's really important that people remember that this still is a construction site," says Knackstedt.
And Aucklanders will have to go through the whole thing again in two years when the motorway will close to connect new lanes going north.
