Drivers Warned to Plan Ahead for Busy Easter and Anzac Holiday Roads

Motorists travelling through the Waikato and Bay of Plenty over Easter and Anzac weekend are being urged to allow extra time and drive to the conditions. NZTA Waka Kotahi system manager Andy Oakley says the overlap of Easter Monday, Anzac Day, and school holidays makes this one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

Heavy traffic is expected on SH2 between Paeroa and Waihī, between Tauranga and Katikati, and on SH29 over the Kaimai Range. Peak travel times are anticipated on Thursday 17 April and Good Friday 18 April, with return-journey congestion likely on Sunday 20 and Monday 21 April.

Several road construction projects in the Western Bay area will add to potential delays. Works on SH2 at Apata Station Road to Wainui South Road are preparing for a new roundabout, with lane shifts and speed restrictions in place. At SH2 Turners Road, traffic will be shifted to allow construction of northbound lanes, with staged work and speed restrictions in place. The temporary single-lane roundabout at SH2 Ōmokoroa Road remains operational while construction continues.

Oakley reminded drivers that congestion during holiday periods is unavoidable, and asked everyone to be patient, stick to the speed limit, and follow the directions of traffic management teams on site.

Originally published in Katikati News (Sun Media).