Gridlock hits Papamoa on $455 million TEL

Merging into one lane before a major roundabout on the Tauranga Eastern Link is causing traffic delays. Photo / Andrew Warner

Papamoa motorists fear the $455 million Tauranga Eastern Link may be flawed, as a single lane, designed to reduce speeds to a major south/east roundabout, has brought nightly rush-hour traffic to a standstill.

The New Zealand Land Transport Authority blamed the blip on drivers "rubber-necking" at ongoing construction and expected no traffic back-ups when the toll road to Paengaroa opened on August 3 because it would ease congestion.

However, Papamoa resident Chris Ellis said a road with a high-volume of traffic that cut from two lanes to one was always going to be a problem and it had "become quite infuriating at times".

"I think it's definitely a flaw in their big plan and a bit of a blunder. It does not make any sense to me."

He travelled the route daily and said it was easier to stay at work longer to avoid sitting in traffic.

Sarah Holbrok said she had also frequently come across the "bottleneck," and often cars were backed up as people tried to merge.

She thought there would always be a delay at night on the highway because of the ongoing development at Papamoa and the amount of road users.

Mount Maunganui/Papamoa ward councillor Leanne Brown said she had noticed a pinch in the road but it would only be short-lived.

"I think by the time all the roads open and all the options are available, it should flow really well. I would be confident NZTA have done all the right modelling and in the short-term there are some pinch points at peak times."

Humans were creatures of habit, she said, and liked to travel the same road at the same time but they should think about trying different routes.

Tauranga Eastern Link senior project manager Wayne Troughton said drivers were still adjusting to the slip road that led into the roundabout for Papamoa and Te Puke-bound traffic.

"That road has a lot of traffic on it so as soon as you get a little bit of slowing down it has a ripple effect.

"People go from a reasonable speed to next to nothing because they are looking at what is happening ... we call it rubber-necking."

However, he expected that to be eliminated once the toll road opened and about 25 per cent of traffic used it.

"It is expected about 6000 vehicles per day will use the TEL toll road on opening and this will increase over time as the Papamoa East and Rangiuru Interchanges are developed.

"Therefore the traffic volumes on the off-ramp will decrease and there will be less reason for congestion.

"I would be very, very surprised if we have traffic backingup," he said.

The slip lane was a typical design for an off-ramp, he said, and a holistic, conservative approach had been taken in its design.

The single-lane off ramp, which would have a speed limit of 70km/h, assisted in reducing speeds prior to the roundabout, Mr Troughton said.

TEL Open Day

* Saturday August 1, 10.30am to 3.30pm
* Information hub, machinery and vintage car display
* Find out how to use toll road
* Open to cyclists 8am to 10am

- NZTA