The traffic queues entering into Wellsford are reportedly kilometres long. Video / Supplied
Motorists are stuck in long queues to get across the Auckland Harbour Bridge and, if they’re heading north, face being stuck in several sections of gridlocked holiday traffic.
Traffic heading out of Auckland continues to be snarled on parts of State Highway 1 as holidaymakers travel to northern hotspots to see in the New Year.
There is now also an 8km queue of traffic banked up to go across the Auckland Harbour Bridge back towards Remuera on the Southern Motorway. The traffic is heading north and is being affected by the scheduled lane reduction for maintenance on the bridge.
Speed has been reduced on parts of the Southern Motorway to 70 km/h and as low as 50 km/h at Spaghetti Junction, with motorists being warned it would take up to 90 minutes to travel from Ellerslie to Albany on SH16.
On SH1 near Warkworth and between Wayby Valley Road and Wellsford, traffic is nearing a state of gridlock, with queues stretching for kilometres.
Earlier, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi warned traffic at the top of Auckland’s Northern Motorway was expected to build from mid-morning as holidaymakers began to head out of town.
The agency said it was preparing for the annual post-Christmas exodus out of Auckland, with motorists warned to expect delays and queues on the region’s motorways.
NZTA said that from 10am until 3pm today, traffic heading north was expected to be busy on SH1 between Pūhoi and Warkworth.
Traffic is also expected to start building on the same stretch of road from 9am tomorrow.
Heavy traffic has built up before the Auckland Harbour Bridge on the Southern Motorway.
The roads are expected to be busy this holiday period, with the heaviest traffic coming after New Year’s Day.
Motorists heading south on SH2 to the Coromandel Peninsula, Waihī Beach and Tauranga are also expected to encounter delays and queues.
Passing lanes on the highway at Maramarua will be closed today and tomorrow for safety reasons in light of the high volumes of traffic expected.
NZTA Waikato system manager Andrew Oakley said queues might be longer than usual because of closed passing lanes and reduced speeds through the Karangahake Gorge.
“When the roads are super-busy, maintaining a steady flow helps prevent crashes from traffic merging at the end of passing lanes.
“The reduced speed through the gorge is to help keep people safe while driving, walking and cycling in this popular summer holiday spot.”
Motorists heading north for summer should expect to face queues between Pūhoi and Warkworth today.
A second wave of heavy traffic is expected to be busy on either end of Auckland’s SH1 after New Year’s Day.
Automobile Association road safety spokesman Dylan Thomsen said people would need to exercise caution on the road during the holiday period.
“Summer is the busiest time on our roads, which makes it a riskier time for crashes. We expect the police to be out in force on the roads from this point on — meaning if you are breaking the rules, you are more likely to be caught.”
He said motorists could expect to see repairs and roadworks during their travels.
“Motorists will need to show some patience this summer. Be prepared to stop, take instructions from traffic management crews and follow the reduced speed limits at worksites.”
NZTA is warning motorists to be patient regarding roadworks and repairs when travelling during this holiday period.
