Today, the Herald has been given a first look inside the 34,000sq m retail hub, seven years in the making.
Motorists are being told to expect significant delays on Auckland’s motorways and local roads with travel times “substantially longer than usual” as Ikea opens at Sylvia Park.
The mega-retailer will start trading at 11am tomorrow, but the car park will open at 8.30am and Ikea said it was expecting“high visitor numbers“.
Auckland Transport (AT) and the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) have advised motorists to expect significant delays, including 40-minute queues to exit the motorway at Mt Wellington and waits of up to an hour to enter the shop’s car parks, while the surrounding streets are also forecast to be busy.
Ikea’s car park has 544 undercover car bays, 28 motorcycle bays and family and accessible spaces, but the store is also accessible from Sylvia Park via the covered walkway.
“We expect the opening day, and subsequent weeks or even months to draw big crowds to the Sylvia Park area, and for this to have a substantial effect on the transport network both locally and across Auckland,” said Auckland Transport Operations Centre (ATOC) manager Claire Howard.
Congestion is expected to be at its worst during evening peak traffic on weekdays and from 1-4pm on Saturdays, particularly for those heading northbound from South Auckland to Mt Wellington.
Significant delays are expected across Auckland with the opening of Ikea and a wait of up to an hour to enter its car park. Photo / Michael Craig
“We know people are excited about Ikea opening, but like any popular event or destination that attracts a large crowd, it’s going to put pressure on the transport network,” Howard said.
“The best thing you can do is allow plenty of extra time, check routes and travel times on navigation apps and travel outside of peak times if you can.”
