Help for NZ's worst traffic jams

Photo / Martin Sykes

New Zealand's worst traffic jams are set to ease as officials push for freer-flowing cities.

The Auckland City Council is leading the way, with a $570 million plan to break the bottlenecks on its most congested roads.

The busiest parts of Auckland City are Gillies Ave, the Khyber Pass Rd interchange and Remuera Rd, all within 2km of Newmarket's swanky shopping strip, and Symonds St.

Much of the congestion is down to major public transport projects.

Khyber Pass Rd is clogged by work on the Central Connector, a plan to provide faster bus services between Newmarket and the city centre, and DART2, the western rail line upgrade.

The Central Connector is also blamed for congestion on Symonds St.

Officials are studying whether changes to traffic light phasing on Remuera Rd and Gillies Ave will ease jams.

The biggest bottleneck in South Auckland is the intersection of Ti Rakau Drive and Pakuranga Rd.

Manukau City Council group manager of transport Chris Freke said improvements designed to help traffic movement were planned before the end of the year. Multimillion-dollar projects are also under way or in final planning stages around the country.

Wellington has two major bottlenecks, according to city council spokeswoman Katie Jans: State Highway 1 between Thorndon and Ngauranga Gorge and the Mt Victoria tunnel and Basin Reserve area.

She said the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) is working on ways to improve flows, including extending its camera network and using electronic signs to warn motorists of delays.

The busiest spot in Christchurch is the intersection of Blenheim Rd, Curletts Rd and Main South Rd in Sockburn.

City Council asset and network planning manager Terry Howes said the Christchurch Southern Motorway would put an end to the queues.

The NZTA has almost completed the final design and work is due to start next year.

In Hamilton, improvements are under way to three intersections on city centre Mill St, including road widening and changes to lanes and turning areas.

City Council traffic engineering supervisor Shaun Peterson said Mill St was a major arterial route and part of the city's ring road.

The two main areas for congestion in Mt Maunganui and Tauranga are Hewletts Rd and Fifteenth Ave/Turret Rd in Welcome Bay, both across the harbour. Tauranga City Council spokeswoman Meagan Holmes said a $255 million, second harbour bridge was due to open by Christmas.

Congestion as several points in central Whangarei causes major delays during the evening rush hour, with motorists queuing for up to 20 minutes.

Whangarei District Council roading manager Jeffrey Devine said the officials were working on a number of ways to get traffic on to the ring road more quickly.

They included the link from Porowini Ave to Dent St, the Spedding Rd link from Tikipunga to Whau Valley and moves to speed traffic on Western Hills Drive.