Keep car at home: Apec message

By Chris Daniels

A campaign to halve Auckland traffic during Apec is about to hit top gear.

In less than four weeks, the busiest stretch of road, the Southern Motorway, will be closed for part of Monday, September 13.

Brochures, newspaper and radio advertisements will push one message hard: leave the car at home.

On the Monday, the last day of the Apec leaders' meeting, the world's most powerful politicians will travel from the city to the airport.

Traffic planner Wayne McDonald says it is crucial that traffic levels drop 30 to 50 per cent on this day.

The motorway from Hobson St to Manukau will be closed for long periods, with traffic diverted to the Northwestern Motorway and local roads.

"The big concept is to use the Northwestern Motorway linked with St Lukes and Balmoral Rd across to the normal route to the airport - round the airport motorway, down through State Highway 20 and to the Takanini interchange."

Workers in downtown Auckland are being told to either not work at all on the 13th, or to change their hours to avoid peak traffic in the morning and afternoon.

Bus services will still run to timetable, though in some cases bus stops will be shifted for the day.

Moving around the downtown area will be extremely difficult, says Mr McDonald.

Because the city will be divided into segments, motorists will have to work out a different way to get to and from their work, and realise that it will often be impossible to get across the central city.

Almost all of Albert St will be closed for the entire three days of the conference, along with most of Mayoral Drive, Pitt St and Cook St.

Pedestrians will be able to cross these roads at certain times, but will not be allowed near the Apec meeting venues and hotels unless officially accredited.

Apec planners have issued the following warnings to drivers: * Saturday, September 11: avoid the city centre and north on the Southern Motorway from Redoubt Rd to Hobson St. * Sunday: Avoid the city centre. * Monday: Avoid the city centre during peak morning and evening periods, as well as the motorway south from Hobson St to Redoubt Rd.