'Summer ice' warning for roads as rain returns to Northland, Auckland

Wednesday, 4 March 2020

It may not be frosty, but there is a warning to watch for 'summer ice' (file photo).

Temperatures are still hot in Northland and Auckland but roading authorities are urging motorists to watch for ice.

'Summer ice' is the term the NZ Transport Agency, Waka Kotahi has given to the slippery road surfaces, which appear in light rain after extended dry weather.

Due to the drought in Northland, Auckland and Waikato, this week's forecast for rain could result in summer ice, Northland system manager Jacqui Hori-Hoult said.

'Even a very small amount of rain can make the roads very slippery. In fact, it can be more hazardous than heavy rain because grime and exhaust particles that have built up on the road take longer to be washed away.'

* North drought: Auckland breaks record, Whangārei driest summer since WWII

* One dead following serious crash on State Highway 10 in Northland**

Light rain and puddles on the road increases the potential for road crashes, the transport agency says (file photo).

The danger of the roads was demonstrated on Tuesday in the Far North, when a person died after a vehicle rolled near Mangonui.

Hori-Hoult said like normal ice, summer ice is invisible and unpredictable.

Motorists can keep themselves safe by focusing on prevention and taking extreme care.

Motorists need to slow down and take extreme care to avoid crashes, the transport agency says (file photo).

'That means in adverse conditions, motorists should lower their speed, and read and adhere to any advisory signs. Slow down a bit and stay alive,' she said.

'Stay safe by driving to the conditions, increasing following distances and reducing speed.'

The transport agency is also advising Auckland motorists to plan ahead and allow more time to travel on the motorways during 'March madness'.

March is one of the busiest months for traffic on the roads and people using public transport, said Auckland operations manager Rua Pani.

During the month, motorists clock up 12.4 million kilometres every weekday on Auckland's motorways.

This is matched only in November, with less than 12m kilometres a day being travelled in the other months.

Pani said the greater volume of traffic increases the potential for congestion and delays.

'Our advice is to plan your journey to avoid morning and evening peak times, if possible … Travelling in off-peak hours helps avoid congestion and delays.'

Pani said the motorway network is mostly free of construction work, apart from the Northern Corridor Improvements project.

At the end of last year, new lanes opened on the southern motorway between Manukau and Papakura, increasing capacity and improving traffic flow.

On the northwestern (SH16), completed work includes additional lanes between Lincoln Road and Westgate, dedicated bus lanes and an extension to the Northwestern cycleway, which now runs all the way from the central city to Westgate.

Motorists travelling north to south or to the airport also have the option of using the western ring route, instead of travelling across the Auckland Harbour Bridge.