A series of crashes have added to traffic congestion in Auckland this afternoon as holiday traffic builds on state highways.
Multiple emergency service vehicles were at a serious crash on Buckland Rd near Massey Rd earlier this afternoon.
And a section of State Highway 39 at Puketotara, in the Waikato, has also been closed after a crash about 1.45pm.
Police say it involved a “heavy motor vehicle” and the road has been closed while spilled oil is cleared. The driver of the vehicle suffered minor injuries.
Motorists are advised to avoid the area and take an alternative route.
Due to a serious crash on Buckland Road near Massey Road, multiple emergency service vehicles are at present. Bus Stop 2466 - Buckland Road/Massey Road is closed. Use Stop 6430 - Buckland Road/Raglan Street instead. Expect delays and possible cancellations on Bus 31 and 36 . ^CL pic.twitter.com/oWVlIlOKxC
— Auckland Transport Travel Alerts (@AT_TravelAlerts) December 23, 2022
The southbound lane of SH1 at Rangiriri, in Waikato, was also blocked after a crash about 7pm.
There are no reports of injuries.
The southbound lane is blocked while the scene is cleared. Motorists are advised to avoid the area and take an alternative route where possible.
A crash involving three cars on the Bulls bridge, northwest of Palmerston North, this afternoon is also holding up traffic on SH1.
At 3.30pm police received a report of the crash involving three vehicles, which blocked the Rangitīkei River bridge and forced a closure of SH1.
Traffic management is being put in place, police said.
Hato Hone St John sent two ambulances and one rapid response unit to the scene.
“We assessed and treated six patients; two in a moderate condition and four in a minor condition, all transported to Whanganui hospital,” a Hato Hone St John spokesperson said.
UPDATE 4PM
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Central North Island (@WakaKotahiCNI) December 23, 2022
SH1 is now CLOSED at the Rangitikei River Bridge.
Please follow directions from emergency services on-site and expect DELAYS this afternoon.
NB detour via Wilson Rd, Mingaroa Rd, Halcombe Rd, Kakariki Rd then back onto SH1. Reverse for SB. ^CS https://t.co/I8Z4fD9B12 pic.twitter.com/srWAQziqXp
Another serious crash occurred about 30 minutes before on Auckland’s southwestern motorway, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency said in an alert.
At 1.15pm on SH20, it advised motorists to expect delays.
“A crash is blocking the right southbound lane past Puhinui Rd off-ramp. Pass with care and expect delays,” the agency said.
SH20 SOUTHWESTERN MWY - 1:15PM
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) December 23, 2022
A crash is blocking the right southbound lane past Puhinui Rd off-ramp. Pass with care and expect delays. ^CO pic.twitter.com/RzTSnejBkT
SH1 heading southbound between Greenlane and Ellerslie is becoming busier as travellers begin their journey.
Motorists have been warned to expect delays from early afternoon as the Christmas traffic rush begins.
Roads surrounding Auckland could start getting busier as Christmas Day approaches, according to Waka Kotahi’s new online tool - which is meant to predict the summer holiday rush.
Heading north, SH1 between Puhoi and Wellsford traffic would start building from 1pm this afternoon.
The heaviest in the evening would be from 4pm onwards.
For holidaymakers going south, an earlier start to their travel would be recommended as heavy traffic builds from 11am this morning.
On the tool, SH1 Kāpiti Coast between Peka Peka and Otaki showed a heavy traffic build-up from 10am northbound and southbound.
SH2 Remutaka Hill between Wellington and Featherston looked busy this morning for travellers going northbound.
In Queenstown, SH6 looked worst on Christmas Day, with predicted hours of heavy traffic from morning onwards.
SH20 SOUTHWESTERN MWY – 2:45PM
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) December 23, 2022
A four-car crash is blocking the left lane, southbound on #SH20, after Massey Rd off-ramp. Pass with care and expect delays until cleared. ^CO pic.twitter.com/dTikJBxiaS
In the Bay of Plenty, SH2 between Tauranga and Katikati looked fine mostly apart from a busy period this morning southbound and tomorrow afternoon northbound.
Waka Kotahi told RNZ that predictions were “subject to change based on weather and other factors”.
If you’d rather not trust the modelling, Waka Kotahi also has a journey planner that takes into account real-time traffic information, road closures and other potential hiccups, like roadworks.
The official Christmas-New Year holiday road toll period begins today at 4pm and ends at 6am on Wednesday, January 4. Last year, 17 people lost their lives over the official holiday period - one of the worst figures in the past decade.
“Drive to the conditions, allow plenty of time and take regular breaks to stay alert,” the transport agency said.
Fullers360 chief executive Mike Horne said ferry services may be disrupted over the holiday period.
“This is our busiest time of year and we expect demand to be high.”
Horne said to manage demand and incentivise travelling off-peak, Fullers360 had introduced a $35 off-peak deal.
“The fare provides customers travelling off-peak with a 25 per cent discount to the standard return fare.
“Usually, during the peak summer period, we would have access to backup boats to transport passengers who were unable to board their preferred service.
“However, due to crew shortages, we are currently unable to provide this scaled level of service.
“Unfortunately, it’s a matter of people, not vessels - we have the boats, but not the crews to operate more services that we would so love to deliver.”
On Tuesday, Waka Kotahi advised holidaymakers to plan ahead before hitting the road in the coming days.
Waka Kotahi director of regional relationships David Speirs said roads around the regions were likely to be busy as the holiday period approached, especially SH2 in the Bay of Plenty and around Coromandel.
“Congestion and delays are inevitable in peak times, however, if everyone leaves plenty of time for their journey, drives to the conditions and plans ahead before leaving home, frustrations can be eased and everyone can concentrate on arriving safely at their destination.”
The advice is based on Waka Kotahi’s holiday journeys traffic prediction tool’s travel pattern data from last year.
In the Coromandel, northbound traffic on SH25 around Tairua was likely to be very heavy on Christmas Day and early afternoons on Boxing Day and December 27.
Southbound around Tairua would be busy from New Year’s Day and drivers should expect busy traffic throughout the first week of the year in both directions, the agency said.
Elsewhere in the Waikato, southbound on SH1 Karāpiro to Tīrau was likely to be busy from December 23 until December 26 and northbound during the first few days of the new year.
SH2 between Pōkeno and Maramarua was expected to be busy eastbound in the afternoons from December 23 to Boxing Day, and again around the new year.
“Westbound, January 8 is the day to watch with heavy traffic anticipated early afternoon,” it said.
In the Bay of Plenty, traffic was likely to be at its heaviest on SH2 eastbound between Paeroa and Waihi on December 26, from late morning until early afternoon, and again on January 2.
SH2 will also be busy northbound and southbound between Tauranga and Katikati in the lead-up to Christmas and over the new year.
On SH29 over the Kaimai Range west of Tauranga, expect Christmas Eve to Boxing Day to be busy eastbound.