Editorial: Traffic delays should not last

Tauranga Eastern Link

I use the Tauranga Eastern Link to get to and from work each day.

The recently opened section of road between between Domain Rd and Te Maunga has shaved a few minutes off my daily commute.

It's a big improvement on the road that preceded it and the New Zealand Transport Agency deserves credit for completing the project ahead of schedule.

While it has shortened the travel time for me, other motorists say they face lengthy delays because it cuts to a single lane before the roundabout leading to either Papamoa or Te Puke.

The bottleneck happens during periods of peak traffic when people are heading to and from work.

Typically, I start my shift later in the day so have, so far, had the good fortune of avoiding any traffic jams.

Papamoa residents such as Chris Ellis have not been so fortunate. He told the Bay of Plenty Times the narrowing of the road to a single lane would always be a problem and was infuriating at times.

Mount Maunganui/Papamoa councillor Leanne Brown has also noticed the problem but hopes by the time all the roads are open the traffic flow will improve.

Given the overall cost of the TEL project - $455 million - it is concerning that such issues are emerging so soon after the stretch of road opened.

Tauranga Eastern Link senior project manager Wayne Troughton says part of the issue is that drivers are rubber-necking at the ongoing construction projects in the area.

This was causing traffic to slow quickly which had a ripple effect on the traffic flow.

He believes that once the TEL toll road opens next month the delays will disappear.

Hopefully everyone can then enjoy an improved daily commute.