How to avoid the weekend traffic

Urban dwellers wanting to avoid Labour Weekend traffic congestion should keep away from roads mid-afternoon. Photo / iStock

Urban dwellers wanting to avoid Labour Weekend traffic congestion should keep away from roads mid-afternoon, according to data from previous holiday beaks.

"We know that traffic is heaviest heading north on State Highway 1 between Puhoi and Kawakawa from mid-afternoon on Friday and again on Saturday morning, and then returning south again from 10am on Monday morning," said Brett Gliddon, New Zealand Transport Agency Auckland highways manager.

"It's also busy heading south out of Auckland on SH1 from midday on Friday until around 8pm and then again on Saturday from about 9am, and picks up again heading north to Auckland from lunchtime on Monday through until 7pm."

There were several lane closures and restrictions in place on SH16 at both the Te Atatu interchange and St Lukes motorway on-ramp. The NZTA said motorists further north should take care and allow extra time travelling through the Akerama Improvements Project on SH1 near Hukerenui, north of Whangarei.

Similar advice was in place for people travelling on the north face of the Brynderwyn Hills, south of Whangarei.

Meanwhile, traffic data from TomTom last year suggested Aucklanders should avoid the roads today between 3pm and 6pm.

"Due to Aucklanders eagerness to head off for the long weekend earlier than a normal Friday evening, peak hour traffic will be kicking off from 3pm. So to beat the congestion, savvy Aucklanders should leave after 6pm to avoid sitting in queues," a spokesperson for the navigation and mapping company said.

"On Labour Day 2014, delays were close to an hour long near Auckland (57 min), more than double the delay (25 mins) of the Friday before at the same time."