Influx of visitors asked for patience at Hamilton 400

Photo / Supplied

With 50,000 fans expected to flood into Waikato next week for the Hamilton 400, police are advising drivers to keep their cool.

The V8 event starts next Thursday and will run until Sunday.

Waikato road policing manager Inspector Leo Tooman said the track had begun to take shape and had already impacted on traffic flows in the city.

"To ensure maximum enjoyment from your trip we advise out-of-towners to plan the route they intend to take to the event.

"This is particularly important for east/west movements across the city as Mill St is basically the central focus of the track," Mr Tooman said.

Parking facilities on the eastern side of the city will be well signposted.

"Those vehicles travelling to the event from Auckland will travel down SH 1 and be diverted onto SH 1B at Taupiri."

Visitors from the Bay of Plenty will be directed off SH 1 at Cambridge's Church Corner to SH 26/ Morrinsville Rd to Ruakura.

Police were asking residents and visitors to make use of free public transport and leave cars at home or at Park and Ride facilities to ease traffic congestion.

"You don't need to use your car during the Hamilton 400, leave it at home, there's plenty of free buses operating within the city."

- NZPA