Traffic building on motorways as Anzac weekend exodus begins

Friday, 23 April 2021

Police and the Returned and Services Association are running a checkpoint on Auckland's busy Tamaki Drive in an attempt to keep the long weekend road toll low.

Traffic is at a standstill on Auckland’s motorways as people begin the exodus to holiday spots ahead of the upcoming long weekend.

Hopeful holidaymakers are hitting heavy congestion heading out of the central city, with traffic only expected to get worse as people start to clock off work.

Google Maps is showing one heavy red line heading through the city, with congestion already adding an hour to journeys.

Holidaymakers can expect delays heading out of Auckland on Friday evening. (File photo)

Earlier congestion on SH1 near Takanini has started to clear, after a crash impeding traffic was moved.

Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency Auckland operations manager Rua Pani urged people to plan ahead for any trips as there were likely to be more people on the roads as school holidays were “in full swing”.

Waka Kotahi’s journey planner showing that traffic heading north is likely to only get heavier from now until this evening.

Those driving southbound through Manukau on SH1 are likely to hit traffic even earlier, with the roads busiest between 10am-3pm on Friday.

Heading north traffic is expected to be heaviest on SH1 between Puhoi and Wellsford from Friday midday to 8pm and again between 8.30am-3pm on Saturday.

All roadworks on state highways in Northland, apart from weather-related and emergency works, have been put on hold over Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

But it’s only a slight let off, as temporary speed limits will remain in place around several work sites on SH1 between Auckland and Whangārei.

That includes through the Dome Valley, on Matakana Link Rd and at Loop Rd. Traffic management will also be in place on Loop Rd heading west on SH15 and on SH12 at Rawene Rd.

In Waikato, delays are predicted on State Highway 2 between Pokeno and Maramarua, particularly heading east on Friday afternoon.

State Highway 1 heading out of Wellington will be busiest on Friday between 11.30am and 6pm.

On SH1 between Christchurch and Ashburton, traffic will be heavy southbound for most of Friday, from 9.30am-7pm.