But the latest council progress report on Te Okuroa Drive was that this alternative route for Palm Springs and Golden Sands residents would not be completed until November.
Council communications adviser Marcel Currin said construction of the fourth stage of Te Okuroa Dr to a roundabout with Livingstone Drive had been pushed out from September to November.
He said there was a delay caused by the removal of asbestos near The Boulevard roundabout. ''The soil testing is all clear so physical works will start this month.''
An earlier council report said the Livingstone Drive roundabout in Golden Sands would become the first connection to Te Okuroa Drive for the Golden Sands and Palm Springs.
The council understood that developer Hawridge would potentially connect Palm Springs Boulevard in late 2018 as well.
The council's transport manager, Martin Parkes, said people had got used to six to eight weeks of relatively free-flowing roads during school holidays.
''As soon as that link (Te Okoroa Drive) is fully operational, the traffic flows along Papamoa Beach Rd will drop significantly and free up other parts of the network.''
In the meantime, he suggested commuters should think about travelling outside peak times, and for more Papamoa College students to walk or cycle to school.
Traffic banking up behind Papamoa Primary School's patrolled crossing on Parton Rd had not been brought to his attention as an issue. Parkes said holding up cars for a couple of minutes was the cost of children getting to school safely and was preferable to the alternative of parents driving their children to school.
''We ask people to be patient until we have built the new road.''
Papamoa School principal Phil Friar said the change in traffic volumes when all the schools went back had been a bit of a shock for motorists. It was nose to tail for 35 minutes from 8am.
He said the school attempted to put the children across the crossing in groups to reduce traffic disruption but sometimes a courteous driver stopped anyway. Friar also highlighted the impact on the morning peak from the other pedestrian crossing on Parton Rd and drivers letting in traffic coming out of side roads.
''There are a whole lot of factors. The significant thing is that the road is taking a huge volume of traffic and we all need to work as effectively and considerately as we can.''
City councillor Leanne Brown had seen comments on social media about the congestion. She put some of the blame on the fact that there was always more cars during the first week that schools went back, with rain last week making the situation worse.
She said children needed a lift to get their books to school and they might want a parent to be there with for the introduction to a new school or classroom. ''It is all unsettling and they want their mums to be with them.''
Facebook posts about morning peak at Papamoa East
- ''Lesson of the week - don't try to get out of Papamoa East at 8.30am.''
- ''40mins return trip from Pap East-Pap College...this is worse than winter.''
- ''Pretty heavy at 7.15am too. Think I'm going to change work hours to start at 10.30.''
- ''That is why I walk my kids to school and power walk home.''
