Another significant jam was predicted at Queenstown on Christmas Day and around the New Year.
In Otago, there will be delays at the single-lane Beaumont Bridge on SH8. The good news - not that it helps anyone in the next week or so - is that the delays are due to the nearby construction of a new bridge with two lanes.
After a short break over the Christmas-New Year period, Waka Kotahi will be ramping up resealing of about 10 per cent of the highway network, much of it in Otago and Southland.
“In many areas the wet early summer means more activity with road crews working nights as well as days, so please take care around these crews and keep alert for traffic management advice,” the agency said.
“If you are driving long distances around the South Island these summer holidays, add an hour to the usual journey time.”
Waka Kotahi said it was an unfortunate coincidence the summer holiday travel peaks coincided with the best time to resurface roads, “the warm temperatures and dry air help[ing] the new seal stick to the road surface”.
Aucklanders heading south of the Bombays over the break might want to try getting back to the big smoke a little earlier than usual. The northbound lanes around Drury, Papakura and Manurewa on Sunday, January 8, will likely be packed - consider Saturday instead.
Predictions were “subject to change based on weather and other factors”, the agency said. If you’d rather not trust the modelling, Waka Kotahi also has a journey planner that takes into account real-time traffic information, road closures and other potential hiccups, like roadworks.
The official Christmas-New Year holiday road toll period beginstomorrow at 4pm and ends at 6am on Wednesday, January 4. Last year, 17 people lost their lives over the official holiday period - one of the worst figures in the past decade.
“Drive to the conditions, allow plenty of time and take regular breaks to stay alert,” the agency said.
