Traffic set to cause headaches

Motorists told to expect significant delays today and tomorrow

Roads have been congested with holidaymakers travelling to destinations far and wide — and as New Year’s Eve approaches, traffic woes aren’t expected to ease.

The New Zealand Transport Agency predicts traffic will be slowmoving on numerous roads and state highways nationwide today and tomorrow.

People travelling north or south on State Highway 1 out of Auckland should be prepared for delays in peak times.

The stretch of SH1 between Puhoi and Wellsford north of Auckland has become notoriously busy as people try to reach holiday destinations in Northland.

NZTA expects the road to be “busy” from 10am to 6pm today and describes the heaviest period as from 11am to 5pm.

The worst time to use the same stretch of road tomorrow is from 10.30am to 6pm.

Heading south on SH1 near Takanini is also expected to be busy throughout the weekend.

NZTA said the road was expected to be busy today from 9.30am to 4.30pm and its heaviest period is expected to be from 10am to noon tomorrow.

Northbound Whangarei motorists should avoid travelling north on SH1 from 4pm to 5pm tomorrow afternoon and those heading south from 10.30am to 12.30pm.

If you are heading from Auckland to the Coromandel on SH2 the best SH1 northbound: 4pm to 5pm SH1 southbound: 10.30am to 12.30pm SH2 northbound and southbound: 10.30am to 12.30pm today and tomorrow. SH2 westbound: 11am to 4.30pm and 10.30am to 5pm tomorrow. SH1 northbound: 9am to 1pm and 9.30am to 1pm tomorrow. SH1 southbound: 10am to 6pm. time to avoid travel is between 10am and noon today with tomorrow the same.

Heading westbound on SH2 between Tauranga and Katikati the road will be slowest between 11am and 4.30pm today and tomorrow will be similar from 10.30am to 5pm.

SH1 on the Kapiti Coast is expected to have heavy traffic in both directions, with traffic expected to be heaviest heading north between 9am and 1pm today and 9.30am and 1pm tomorrow.

Motorists heading in the opposite direction are warned traffic will be worst today between 10am and 6pm with tomorrow looking easier.

Yesterday several crashes around the country disrupted commuters.

A woman fell out of a moving campervan on the Waikato Expressway yesterday while attempting to close a door.

The woman suffered cuts and grazes and was taken to Waikato Hospital’s intensive care unit.

In the Bay of Plenty a woman was airlifted to Waikato Hospital following a crash in rural Tauranga around 3.30pm yesterday.

The crash happened about 2km east of State Highway 36.

Other incidents included a Northland motorist who was flown to hospital after crashing off a road and two people were taken to hospital in Otago after the commercial 4WD they were riding in Queenstown tipped.

New Zealand Police were advising motorists over the holiday break to be patient and courteous of others on the road.

“With so many more people on our roads right now, it’s important we are all even more cautious and aware when we are driving or riding,” assistant commissioner of road policing Superintendent Sandra Venables said.

At the time of going to press last evening, the national road toll was 377 for the year.