End of school holiday could quadruple travel time

As the winter-school holidays draw to a close motorists are being advised to plan ahead. Photo: NZH/Mark Mitchell

As the winter school holidays draw to a close motorists are being advised to plan ahead, buckle up, watch your speed, stay alert and issue patience in the inevitable event of a traffic jam.

Large numbers of people are making the journey back home via the road this weekend - with the busiest periods forecast to hit today between lunchtime and late evening.

And with the weather expected to be on the wet side there is potential for significant traffic disruption.

Based on previous years' traffic data the Automobile Association (AA) and the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) have highlighted where along the North Island's main arterial routes traffic is expected to build as holidaymakers head home.

These included State Highway 1, to the north of Auckland around Warkworth and south around Takanini, the intersection between SH1 and SH2 from the Coromandel.

Hot spots further south include along the highway, just north of Hamilton, around Taupiri, and south of the city around Karapiro.

AA spokesman Barney Irvine said on the last day of a holiday period traffic was particularly heavy for the whole afternoon.

He estimated journeys through some of the key sticky points could almost double, if not quadruple when traffic builds up.

Irvine said typically the journey from Drury to Manukau would take about eight minutes when traffic was free-flowing - however, on the last day of the April school holidays this trip took more than four times that - a total of 37 minutes.

NZTA spokeswoman Sarah Azam said delays and queues of traffic were inevitable given the large numbers who were likely heading back to the main centres at the end of the holidays.

She urged motorists to stay up to date www.onthemove.govt.nz with both the traffic and weather forecasts.

"Predicted peak times can change based on incidents, weather and even driver behaviour so using real time travel information is the best way to get up to date and accurate information."

Azam said travelling outside of the busiest times would help reduce the chances of being stuck in a queue and help keep the traffic moving.

"This means a less stressful journey home for you and helps ease congestion levels for everyone else too."

She said the NZTA had a team of people working through the weekend to monitor and manage traffic flows and incidents on the country's state highways.

But Azam also urged motorists to put safety first to prevent any road tragedies as families headed back home.

"Stay sober and alert, watch your speed, make sure everyone is buckled up and drive to the conditions to do your bit towards making our roads safer for everyone."

A police spokeswoman echoed NZTA's safety message and urged patience among motorists.

"There may well be increased traffic at the usual congestion points in, and out of the main cities.

"Police thank motorists for remaining patient at these points and to please slow down and maintain wide following distances."

Keep up-to-date here: www.onthemove.govt.nz or here www.nzta.govt.nz

How traffic could affect your travel

Warkworth-Puhoi:

• In freeflow traffic, this trip takes around 12 minutes
• On the last day of Queen's Birthday Weekend, congestion peaked at between 3.30pm and 5pm, with trips taking up to 20 minutes
• On the last day of the April school holidays, however, traffic flowed pretty well, and there were minimal delays

Takanini (Drury-Manukau):

• In freeflow traffic, this trip takes around 8 minutes
• On the last day of Queen's Birthday Weekend, congestion peaked at 2.30pm, with trips taking 25 min
• On the last day of the April school holidays, congestion peaked between 3pm and 3.30pm, with trips taking 37 minutes

SH2 (SH1-SH25 - main route from Coromandel towards Auckland):

• In freeflow traffic, this trip takes around 22 minutes
•On the last day of Queen's Birthday Weekend, congestion peaked between 3pm and 4pm, with trips taking 55 min

Waikato:

• The two key hotspots are north of Hamilton (around Taupiri) and south of the city around Karapiro

Wellington:

•Key hotspots around Wellington are the Kapiti Coast (SH1) and Rimutaka Hill (SH2)