By WAYNE THOMPSON
An armed services parade up Queen St yesterday to celebrate the Queen's golden jubilee caused traffic chaos in the central business district.
Motorists, bus passengers, carriers and couriers were delayed for up to an hour when parts of central Auckland's main street were blocked off between 10.30am and 2.30pm for the parade.
While Navy, Army, Air Force and police marchers won the applause of hundreds of Aucklanders, motorists caught in gridlocks on streets kilometres away were blasting their horns in frustration.
Traffic was backed up on the motorways and the length of Symonds St and Khyber Pass Rd.
Sub60 couriers operations manager Adrian Kelly said his firm would complain to Auckland Mayor John Banks.
"It was daft to have a parade on a Friday. Friday is a dog of a day for us and traffic is bad everywhere. It causes chaos for the industry."
About 20 of the firm's inner-city couriers were delayed 30 to 60 minutes on about 1000 deliveries.
Mr Kelly said the firm had not received any warning of the parade.
Cycle couriers were diverted to help car-driving colleagues who could not get near central-city offices. The "pedalies" relayed courier packs to the cars.
For one motorist, a customary 10-minute trip into the city centre via Dominion Rd and Upper Queen St took an hour.
Karangahape Rd retailers had a quiet lunchtime because customers could not reach parking spots.
Bus companies reported jams on all main routes feeding the inner city, particularly Customs St, Beach Rd, Symonds St and Hobson St.
Some Stagecoach services ran up to 30 minutes late and services from Howick were forced to finish at Auckland University rather than Queen St.
Bus companies said they were consulted about the traffic plan three weeks ago and advised their passengers to expect delays.
Heart of the City chief executive Alex Swney said businesses had not complained to him about loss of trade.
Members were warned about the parade arrangements in a newsletter.
Auckland's road policing manager, Inspector George Fraser, said motorists were courteous and patient throughout the rolling street closures.
Queen St was reopened as the parade passed.
A few traffic accidents added to delays for Dominion Rd traffic, he said.
The traffic management plan, put together with the council, had worked well, police said.
A group of staff were assigned to the outer-city fringe to keep traffic moving.
Mr Banks said that yesterday was the only opportunity to get all the parade participants together. The city had held Friday afternoon parades before.
He thought businesses and motorists had received adequate notice of the parade and detours.
Another Queen St parade will be held next Friday between noon and 1pm - for the council.
It is launching its new-look Ambassador and street orderlies services and the inner-city liquor ban.
Jubilee march brings city to halt
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