‘Insane’ traffic blamed on T3

Angry motorists have taken to social media to protest a T3 lane leading onto Auckland’s northern motorway they believe is creating ‘‘insane’’ traffic congestion.

An online poll on Neighbourly.co.nz, with over 100 votes, has 89 per cent of people requesting the Onewa Rd T3 lane, in Northcote and Birkenhead, have a trial run as a T2 lane to improve morning congestion.

With ‘‘March Madness’’ traffic conditions beginning last week, as students return to university, commuters have found Onewa Rd traffic ‘‘horrendous’’ and are blaming the T3 lane.

‘‘This really can’t continue this way much longer, it’s at breaking point now. I requested Onewa trialling T2 but the powers that be said, no, I mean they TOLD me that in their stats T3 works and doesn’t warrant a trial... huh?’’ Property Pro North Shore wrote.

‘‘It takes 1.5 hours to get from KFC onto the Motorway in the morning and it’s less than 5K’s,’’ Glenfield resident Leah Craven wrote.

From 6.30am to 9am, Monday

‘‘Changing this lane to a T2 would significantly increase the level of delay along the route, as another 300 or so cars would be able to access the transit lane.’’ Mark Hannan, Auckland Transport media relations manager

to Friday, Onewa Rd has a T3 lane which extends for two kilometres from Birkenhead Ave, Birkenhead, to the SH1 northern motorway entrance in Northcote.

Auckland Transport (AT) media relations manager Mark Hannan said the councilcontrolled organisation was ‘‘very happy’’ with the way the Onewa Rd T3 lane operates and has no plans to change it.

Hannan said, during the Onewa Rd T3 lane’s morning operating hours into the CBD, it carries 12 per cent of the vehicles, including 46 buses and 255 T3 vehicles.

AT reported 60 per cent of people who move along Onewa Rd in rush hour used the T3 lane.

‘‘It’s worth noting that this is the busiest time of year and all our key routes to the city are experiencing some congestion and high levels of traffic,’’ Hannan said.

‘‘Changing this lane to a T2 would significantly increase the level of delay along the route, as another 300 or so cars would be able to access the transit lane. This would have a negative impact on the efficiency of bus services.’’