Motorists heading away for the Waitangi Day weekend are being urged to plan ahead to avoid delays on the state highways in and out of Wellington.
Waka Kotahi has updated its online holiday journeys prediction tool(external link) for Waitangi weekend so that people can plan ahead and avoid the busiest times on the road.
“It’s inevitable that there will be congestion and delays during peak times, but people can avoid the worst of this by planning ahead and leaving when the road is less busy, like early in the morning or later in the evening,” Regional Transport Systems Manager Mark Owen says.
The holiday journeys traffic prediction tool shows that State Highway 1 travelling out of Wellington is expected to be busiest on Friday from 11am through to 6pm, and on Saturday and Sunday from mid-morning until 1pm both days.
For those heading into Wellington on State Highway 1, traffic is expected to be heaviest in the afternoons on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and from 11am to 5pm on Monday as people return home.
State Highway 2 over the Remutaka Hill is also expected to be busier than usual, particularly heading north on Friday from 10am through to 8.30pm, on Saturday from 8.30am to 3pm, and on Sunday and Monday from mid-morning until about 12.30pm both days.
For southbound traffic on State Highway 2, the busiest times are expected to be Sunday and Monday 10.30am to 6pm both days.
“Because predicted peak times can change based on incidents, weather or even driver behaviour, motorists should also check our journey planner(external link) before they head off, which provides traffic information and updates on delays, road works and road closures in real time,” Mr Owen says.
“It can be frustrating getting stuck in traffic, but the most important thing is that everyone gets to their destination safely. Please plan ahead, be patient and drive to the conditions.
“Trying to ‘make up lost time’ by speeding and unsafe overtaking puts everyone on the road at risk. Even when speed doesn’t cause the crash, it is most likely to determine whether someone is killed, injured, or walks away unharmed. For everyone’s safety, please slow down.
“The summer months are often very busy with road works as the warm, dry air is ideal for resurfacing. Our sites have traffic management in place for the safety of our crews and road users, so we ask that motorists take extra care through our sites and adhere to the speed restrictions.”
Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey. Keep up to date with:
