Plan ahead, holiday motorists urged

Drivers are being urged to travel on SH1 outside peak hours. Photo / Greg Bowker

Drive now, pay later on the country's newest toll road is one of the messages motorists are being given as road authorities anticipate heavy congestion for Auckland anniversary holiday weekend.

Monday is a statutory holiday and roads in and out of Auckland traditionally have been heavily congested as people make the most of the last long weekend before school resumes.

The main road from Auckland north has always been heavily congested, even with the new toll highway from Orewa to Puhoi.

The New Zealand Transport Agency said motorists could help themselves by using the road and paying the $2 car toll within five days, instead of waiting at the booths on the side of the highway.

Motorists also had the option of pre-paying trips or setting up an account so the toll was automatically deducted when the electronic system read the number plates as cars drove under the toll cameras.

NZTA also urged drivers to travel outside peak hours on State Highway 1 or take the alternative State Highway 16 which came out at Warkworth.

"We know that there is a bottleneck at Warkworth and the NZTA is working now to upgrade intersections on SH1 through the town to improve traffic flows," said NZTA regional director for Auckland and Northland, Wayne McDonald.

Traffic heading north from Auckland was expected to begin building up about mid-morning tomorrow. SH1 would also be busy on Saturday from early morning until late afternoon.

"Auckland Anniversary is one of the busiest times of the year on the roads between the two regions," Mr McDonald said.

He said driving conditions would be very demanding with heavy congestion, slow queues and temperatures at their summer peak.

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