Traffic trials anger SH2 motorists at Te Puna

Fix the Bloody Road campaigner Andrew Hollis says people don't seem terribly impressed with traffic trials affecting SH2. Photo/file

Traffic trials introduced on one of the Western Bay of Plenty's busiest stretches of highway have gone down like a lead balloon among some motorists.

The NZ Transport Agency and the Western Bay of Plenty District Council began a two-week trial on Monday . The agency wants to find out if it could reduce traffic delays on State Highway 2 through changes to some intersections.

Andrew Hollis, who heads the Fix the Bloody Road action group, said he had received a lot of feedback from disgruntled motorists.

"It seems more than 90 per cent of comment is negative," he said.

"Some people are having delays of up to 45 minutes extra, that's extra on top of the existing delays.

"I'm lucky enough not to have experienced it myself, but it seems an hour-and-a-half of time on the road is something I want to avoid."

Hollis said, in his view, the only solution to SH2's traffic issues was to reinstate the proposed Tauranga Northern Link. He said the primary concern for the group was not necessarily the congestion, but the safety of the road - not just at peak times.

A Western Bay of Plenty District Council spokesman said the council had forwarded about 15 complaints and feedback to the agency.

In a written statement, NZ Transport Agency Bay of Plenty journey manager Nigel D'Ath said feedback, and people's patience, was appreciated.

"We are trialling different approaches on different days to find the best way to improve people's journeys. Traffic volumes vary from day to day, and that can have an impact on delays."

Information collected would determine what short-term improvements the agency could make.

* People can share their feedback by contacting the Western Bay of Plenty District Council or transport agency's websites.

Traffic trial

Week 1: From May 14 to 17, between 7am and 9am (morning peak), people will not be able to turn right into Te Puna Station Rd from SH2, and there will be traffic control measures on Te Puna Station Rd for people approaching SH2. Impact on Wairoa Rd traffic using the underpass will be minimised.
Week 2: From May 21 to May 25, Te Puna Station Rd will be closed from Clarke Rd to southbound traffic only, 24 hours per day. Drivers will be able to access SH2 at Te Puna Rd.
Source - NZ Transport Agency