Take care as school holidays end

Traffic is expected to be much heavier this weekend as the school holidays come to an end. Photo/File

Traffic is expected to be much heavier than normal around the region this weekend as the school holidays come to an end and people head back home.

The NZ Transport Agency is encouraging motorists travelling around the Bay of Plenty to plan ahead and allow for delays.

NZTA regional performance manager Karen Boyt said the combination of more vehicles on the road, driver fatigue, and other stressful things like adverse weather and traffic delays contribute to making travel riskier during the holidays.

"Stress-free journeys are safer journeys so it's important that motorists are patient and ready for the possibility of hold-ups when they travel."

"Our websites help you plan ahead and choose the best times to travel and routes to avoid delays and reduce stress. Don't forget, you can also follow us on twitter and Facebook to get the latest updates," she said.

Roadworks that are scheduled to start in the next week or are currently underway are also detailed below to help people plan ahead when travelling.

Works are weather dependent and may be postponed if necessary.

State Highway 5 south of Rotorua:

Motorists are advised to expect delays on State Highway 5 Tumunui as the road is down to one lane and speed restrictions are in place.

Engineers are closely monitoring two cracks which have appeared in the highway. Geotechnical investigations are being carried out to determine the cause of the problem. Drivers are encouraged to use alternative routes such as State Highway 1/State Highway 30 if possible.

Eastern Bay of Plenty:

Heavy rain in the Eastern Bay of Plenty has led to an increase in slips and flooding across the road network. Motorists are advised to drive with extra care and attention when travelling in the region, especially in these areas: State Highway 30 Rotorua lakes, State Highway 2 Matata Straights, State Highway 2 Waimana Gorge, State Highway 2 Waioeka Gorge and State Highway 35 North of Opotiki.