The NZ Transport Agency says heavy traffic in and out of Wellington is a certainty over the Easter holidays and is advising road users to plan ahead and follow the basics of road safety.
“This year is likely to be extra busy with Easter Monday, Anzac Day and school holidays all falling in the same week,” Wellington Transport Operations Manager Roxanne Hilliard says.
“At any time on our roads, following a few simple rules can be the difference between a safe trip or a tragic outcome:
“Roads in and out of Wellington are always busy around the holidays, especially on State Highway 1. Congestion and delays are inevitable, so we also want to remind everyone to leave plenty of time for their journey, drive to the conditions and plan ahead before leaving home,” Ms Hilliard says.
The Transport Agency predicts traffic will be particularly heavy heading north on State Highway 1 on Thursday 18 April and Good Friday 19 April, and then on the return journey south on Sunday 28 April.
To help manage traffic, there will be various passing lane closures in both directions on State Highway 1 between Te Horo and Ōtaki over this period.
To improve safety on Paekākāriki Hill Road and reduce journey times on State Highway 1, Paekākāriki Hill Road will be closed to through traffic on Thursday 18 April between 3pm and 7pm.
As with previous closures, Paekākāriki Hill Road residents and people working or visiting properties on the road will be able to enter from the State Highway 1 at Paekākāriki and Pauatahanui. However, anyone wanting to exit during the closure will need to use an alternate route such as Greys Road.
“It’s important to remember that we all play a part in making our roads safer for everyone using them. We want everyone to arrive safely at their destination these Easter holidays, so we all need to take responsibility for the safety of ourselves and other road users,” Ms Hilliard says.
Plan ahead for a safer journey
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