Flicking the switch on Welcome Bay roundabout's controversial new traffic lights got off to a bad start today when rain compounded timing problems.
Instead of traffic flowing more freely, rush hour queues this morning reverted to worse than what they had been before high school holidays started.
The signals for the roundabout and the nearby intersection with Ohauiti Rd were switched on at 9.30pm last night after several hours of testing.
Project manager Kevin Reid said the timing problem only became apparent at 6am today but rain meant they were unable to open the moisture-sensitive control box to adjust the timing.
``There was a surprising small amount of abuse from motorists _ more just friendly banter.'
Mr Reid said the other cause of queuing this morning was that people were cautious about how they moved off and negotiated the new system.
``We are expecting an improvement tomorrow, and improvements after that as people get used to it.
``Unfortunately at 6am we could see the timing was not quite right for Welcome Bay Rd, but constant rain meant we could not get into the communications cabinet.'
The second stage of the $3.9 million project happens on Sunday night when the rest of the 16 sets of traffic lights around Maungatapu roundabout goes live.
In the meantime, contractors were crossing their fingers they will get enough good weather between now and Christmas to complete the sealing of the Maungatapu roundabout and its approaches. The approach from Te Maunga was finished last night.
Welcome Bay commuter Pamela Decke said they were still crawling up to the roundabout this morning when they would normally be in town. ``We have not had a queue like that for a long time.'
Mrs Decke said there was a marked improvement two weeks ago when the term ended for colleges, but it was worse today when queues wound all the way back to the village.
Motorists coming out of Welcome Bay and turning right at the roundabout towards Maungatapu were today having difficulty keeping in the correct lane, with most cutting into the lane that went right around the roundabout.
Switching lanes on roundabouts is an offence punishable by an instant fine of $150.
Christmas lights cause traffic chaos
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