Traffic backed up near Rotorua last night. Photo/Supplied
Traffic backed up near Rotorua last night. Photo/Supplied
The New Zealand Transport Agency has apologised to Rotorua road users after drivers were forced to wait for up to an hour-and-a-half after a break down at the Hemo Rd roundabout.
Rotorua drivers took to Facebook to vent their frustration after being held up for more than an hour lastnight while trying to enter and exit the city at the intersection of Old Taupo and Hemo Rds.
According to their comments there was no warning of the hold up that some drivers said reached all the way back to Tamaki Maori Village about 8km south of Rotorua.
But, Rotorua's Bede Murphy said it was the second time he had experienced major delays due to the work.
led along about 4km to 5km south of Waipa for three quarters of an hour.
"Last night we all came to a grinding halt about 4km short of Waipa, but some of my friends said they were stopped back at the Tumunui turnoff to Waikite Valley.
"It took me 30 minutes to travel 500m and another 30 to go through the rest of it.
"I guess it's nothing compared to normal Tauranga or Auckland traffic, but it's still a pain," Mr Murphy said.
A Rotorua parent said her teenage son was more than an hour late home from school as he caught a bus from Reporoa College. She said thankfully he had a mobile phone and was able to let them know but she said there would be other parents who were worried where their children were.
The New Zealand Transport Agency has been building an $8.1 million roundabout at the intersection, which has in the past been the site of multiple car crashes, that should be completed by the end of the year.
A transport agency spokeswoman said in a statement road sealing was being carried out at the Hemo Rd intersection when the seal sprayer broke down.
"This led to the work finishing at 5pm instead of the previously planned time of before 4pm.
"Usually all work on the state highway is completed by 3.45pm to minimise impact to drivers.
"We'd like to apologise for the inconvenience the mechanical breakdown caused, unfortunately these things happen at work sites occasionally," the statement said.
Drivers had to wait more than an hour at the Hemo Rd intersection last night. Photo/Brian Holden
Hemo Rd roundabout - Being built by the New Zealand Transport Agency and budgeted at $8.1 million - Should be complete by the end of this year - Will feature a 10m tall, $500,000 sculpture in its centre - Will have walking and cycling underpasses
