More than 20,000 extra vehicles are expected to hit state highways around the Bay of Plenty and Waikato this Easter weekend, with traffic predicted to triple for those traveling on state highway 25 towards the Coromandel.
The NZ Transport Agency says planning ahead for your long weekend travels will help motorists stay safe and avoid delays.
Transport Agency’s regional performance manager, Karen Boyt says, “Last Easter traffic on State Highway 25A heading towards the Coromandel increased by 77% and other roads such as State Highway 2 (SH2) increased by more than 40%. State Highway 29 (SH29) over the Kaimai Range went up by almost a third when compared to a regular summer day.”
State highway road works will stop at 12pm on Thursday, March 24 ahead of the long weekend and will not start back up again until 10am on Tuesday. However speed restrictions, closed road shoulders and reduced lanes will still be in place at some major construction projects and motorists are advised to take plenty of care through these areas.
“Weather will play a big role in determining the busiest peaks for people returning home again, as we saw over the Christmas holiday period on the Coromandel Peninsula but based on previous years, traffic is heaviest from mid-morning Monday and will remain busy through the day,” Ms Boyt says.
The Transport Agency’s travel team has put together maps to show the peak holiday traffic times to help people decide the best time to travel to avoid the queues.
Boyt says, “We will have a range of technology and teams of people working throughout the Easter break to monitor traffic flows and incidents on the state highway network to provide up to the minute and accurate information on the best times to travel and less congested routes.”
Predicted peak times can change based on incidents, weather and even driver behaviour so using real-time travel information is the best way to get up to date and accurate information about email notifications about road and traffic conditions. You can check their Traffic and Travel pages at www.nzta.govt.nz.
Or plan ahead by signing up to www.onthemove.govt.nz to get email notifications about road and traffic conditions on the route you plan to travel.