Motorists are being warned to expect delays this Labour Weekend at hotspots like Warkworth. Photo / Jason Oxenham
Motorists are being warned to expect delays this Labour Weekend at hotspots like Warkworth. Photo / Jason Oxenham
Labour Weekend is shaping up as a cracker on the east coast of the North Island, but wherever you are heading on the road the message from the police is to drive safely.
Last year, three people died on the roads at Labour Weekend. So far in 2017, 301 peoplehave been killed on the roads compared to 255 at the same time last year.
National Policing Manager Superintendent Steve Greally urged motorists to drive safely this holiday weekend and avoid another tragic death on our roads.
He said holiday weekends see increased numbers of vehicles travelling on the road during a concentrated period of time, increasing the collective crash risk.
"The message to all drivers is simple - drive to the conditions, free from impairment and make sure everyone in the vehicle is properly restrained," Greally said.
The New Zealand Transport Agency is delivering the same message to motorists and come up with a list of hotspots at www.nzta.govt.nz/hotspots.
"If you can travel outside of these busiest times it will help reduce your chances of being stuck in a queue and help keep traffic moving. If you do have to travel then, please allow plenty of time to get to your destination," says Harry Wilson, the Transport Agency's Safety Director.
One of the biggest pinch points is on State Highway 1 between Puhoi and Kawakawa, and at Warkworth. Traffic will start building on Friday afternoon and continue through until Saturday morning as people head away. It will build again on Monday from mid-morning as everyone heads home.
It's also particularly busy heading south out of Auckland on SH1 from midday on Friday until around 8pm and then again on Saturday from about 9am. Heading north to Auckland on Monday, traffic gets busy from lunchtime through until around 7pm.
The State Highway 1 and State Highway 2 Interchange from Coromandel can also get congested.
MetService says the long weekend is looking more unsettled than today and tomorrow, especially in the west and south, but eastern areas north of Marlborough are looking mostly fine and mild.
Get free email alerts on a specific route by signing up to www.onthemove.govt.nz or keep informed at www.nzta.govt.nz Facebook www.facebook.com/nztaakl and follow us on twitter at www.twitter.com/nztaakl and freephone 0800 444 449
Traffic hotspots
Auckland SH1 - Takanini (South of Auckland) SH2 - Maramarua (East of SH1/SH2 Interchange) SH1 - between Puhoi and Wellsford Bay of Plenty SH29 - Kaimai (West of Tauranga) SH2 - between Paeroa and Tauranga Canterbury SH73 - Arthur's Pass SH1 - Waimakariri SH1 - between Ashburton and Christchurch SH7 - Lewis Pass SH1 - Waipara (North of Christchurch) Manawatu-Wanganui SH2 - Norsewood between Hastings and Woodville SH3 SH1 - between Taihape and Waiouru Marlborough-Tasman SH6 - between Nelson and Blenheim Napier SH5 - Te Pohue (North of Napier) Northland SH1 - Kawakawa (South of Paihia/Bay of Islands) SH1 - Whangarei Otago SH6 - Queenstown Waikato SH1 - Taupiri (North of Hamilton) SH1 - Karapiro (South of Cambridge) Wellington SH2 - Rimutaka Hill between Wellington and Featherston SH1 - Kapiti Coast
