Holidaymakers caught in congested traffic north and south of Auckland
Tuesday, 2 January 2018
Holiday makers trying to escape Auckland along with those trying to enter the city are experiencing sluggish traffic.
Heavy southbound traffic is currently causing congestion on State Highway 1 through Wellsford and Warkworth, according to the NZTA website.
Holiday traffic is also building southbound on #SH1 through both Wellsford & Warkworth again today (02 Jan) as expected. Allow extra time.
Check https://t.co/Oc4cHs8xnX for more dates & times when traffic is expected to be heavy & know #B4uGo ^TP pic.twitter.com/tIuemnG7Nf
— NZTA Akld & Nthlnd (@NZTAAkl) January 1, 2018
Those heading north through the Johnstones Hill tunnel and Puhoi areas are also experiencing slow moving traffic.
SH1 PUHOI, NORTHBOUND - DELAYS - 11:20AM
Holiday traffic is starting to build northbound on #SH1 thru the Johnstones Hill Tunnel & Puhoi areas. Allow extra time. ^TP pic.twitter.com/1MVA4xDUZq
— NZTA Akld & Nthlnd (@NZTAAkl) January 1, 2018
According to NZTA, a large number of people were expected to travel through the Puhoi area on Tuesday between 9.30am and 7pm.
**READ MORE:
* Holidaymakers warned to expect long delays as traffic backs up on Kāpiti Coast
* Holiday traffic crawling for a few more days
* As road toll creeps up, Christmas holiday 4kmh speed tolerance policy launches**
'Road users are advised to expect delays and allow extra time for their journeys when travelling through this area,' the NZTA website read.
With the current traffic levels, it was expected to take 90 minutes to travel from Auckland city to Snells Beach.
Holiday traffic delays are also building in south Auckland. Delays were expected for southbound commuters on SH1 and eastbound traffic onto State Highway 2 through Mangatawhiri, according to NZTA.
Since the beginning of the holiday period at 4pm on Christmas Eve, emergency services have been kept busy with hundreds of vehicle crashes adding to the congestion.
Police have pleaded with motorists travelling over the holiday period to be cautious, in an attempt to keep the road toll away from last year's 344 fatalities.
Traffic conditions were expected to worsen on Tuesday afternoon, with a severe thunderstorm watch for much of the North Island issued by MetService. Heavy rainfall to be accompanied flash flooding, surface flooding, and potential slips was expected.