Heavy traffic makes for a slow start to Labour weekend for most Kiwis

Friday, 19 October 2018

New Zealand Transport Agency is encouraging motorists going away for the weekend to plan ahead (FILE PHOTO).

Chemical spills, police chases and crashes across New Zealand have disrupted an otherwise dazzling start to the long weekend.

In Wellington, a truck carrying hazardous chemicals crashed on State Highway 1 in the early hours of Friday, causing it to be closed in both directions near Pukerua Bay.

The New Zealand Transport Agency said the road between Plimmerton Roundabout and Paekakariki Hill Rd could remain shut until at least 8pm.

NZTA spokesman Mark Owen said 'if people are heading out of town they need to think of an alternative at this stage, and it's certainly going to take a lot longer if they take an alternative route.'

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Meanwhile, a major police pursuit that started on Auckland's southern motorway and tracked north to Rodney caused major snarl-ups across northern Auckland.

About 10 police officers came under fire during the chase and State Highway 16 was closed north of Kaukapakapa and Wellsford following the incident.

A chemical spill after a truck overturned near Pukerua Bay, north of Wellington, has closed SH1.

Two men were apprehended and roads opened again after 4pm.

Several minor crashes and breakdowns then peppered Auckland City into the evening, said NZTA's Darryl Walker after 6pm.

'But regardless of this, traffic flowing pretty well across the network.

'There have been one or two minor incidents but all together not bad for first evening of long-holiday period.'

Earlier, a serious crash closed SH2 between Old Tauranga Rd and Waihi Beach Rd between 12.15 and 1pm.

NZTA urged motorists heading away to plan ahead.

Its journey manager Nigel D'Ath said congestion and delays were inevitable during peak times.

'Look for an alternative route or consider leaving when the traffic is lighter, either early in the morning or later in the day.'

NZTA has a Labour weekend holiday map that shows people the busiest times to travel on certain routes based on travel patterns from past years.

WEEKEND TOLL

According to NZTA, the Labour Day weekend road toll officially begins at 4pm on Friday and ends 6am on October 23.

In 2017, there were five deaths and 76 reported injuries on the roads over Labour weekend.

Four vehicle passengers, one motorcyclist a cyclist died in the crashes.

In 2016, three people died in crashes during the same holiday period. Five people died in 2015.

WEATHER

A MetService communications meteorologist said for people heading up north, it would be a 'blimmin' nice' weekend.

Aucklanders and those heading north could expect settled conditions and warm temperatures, it said.

'We're looking at the low to mid twenties,' the meteorologist said.

'There might be some lingering clouds hanging around and maybe a shower or two but aside from that most people won't be affected by the showers and the clouds will come and go so it's really going to feel quite nice.'

The only places that were 'looking less favourable' were down in the far south in Westland, he said.