By Chris Daniels
transport reporter
Today marks the start of "March madness" on Auckland roads.
With the holiday season over and students back at school and tertiary institutions, the city's transport officials are gearing up for their biggest headache of the year.
Traffic congestion peaks at this time of year as cars, buses and freight vehicles dramatically increase on Auckland's roads.
Part of the pressure is from about 26,000 students beginning lectures at Auckland University today, while a further 10,000 started last week at the Auckland Institute of Technology.
The city's largest passenger transport operator, Stagecoach, is also preparing for its busiest time.
Spokesman Russell Turnbell said March was usually quite warm, so more people caught the bus.
Passenger numbers then gradually declined throughout the year as commuters found other means of getting to work, such as car-pooling. Others who had just started in the workforce would save enough money to buy a car later in the year.
The focus on future solutions involves several crucial links in the Auckland motorway system.
The building of a new tunnel or bridge across Waitemata Harbour will come under the spotlight this year.
Another link in its final planning stages is a new interchange and two new bridges linking Wellesley St East with Grafton.
And an unused section of motorway under Karangahape Rd may soon also be resurrected as part of the motorway network.
