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Chris McKeen/Stuff
Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has highlighted a number of spots across the country where it expects heavy traffic volumes over the long weekend, as people head away.
Motorists coming into Auckland from north of Puhoi are being told to expect extensive delays after a serious crash on State Highway One.
Emergency services were called to the scene, near the intersection of Schollum Access Rd, just after 12.20pm responding to a report of a car crashing down a bank.
St John Ambulance reported the person is in a critical condition.
A police spokesperson requested motorists be patient and those in the area should expect “extensive delays” as traffic management is in place.
The road remained blocked as of 2.10pm, and congestion had built up back to Warkworth southbound and northbound back to Puhoi, Waka Kotahi (NZ Transport Agency) advised.
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People headed north were urged to consider detouring via SH16, and those going south to take Woodcocks Rd.
Emergency services also responded to a crash involving two motorcycles on West Coast Road, Castle Hill in the Selwyn District, which happened about 12.30pm.
Both riders have moderate injuries, and police advised motorists to avoid the area if possible.
Waka Kotahi is warning people to plan ahead on Monday as it anticipates “high volumes” of traffic across Auckland’s motorway network and further afield as people head home from the long weekend.
People are advised to check where the longest delays are expected before they travel.
So far, there have been three deaths on the roads this Labour Weekend, all on Saturday.
There were seven deaths from crashes at Labour Weekend last year, and eight in 2020, according to Te Manatū Waka (the Ministry of Transport).
One person died in a single-vehicle crash on High St in Taita, Lower Hutt about 11am on Saturday.
Another person died in a crash involving two vehicles on Hamilton’s Horotiu Rd near State Highway 39 about 11am.
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A third person died following a crash on SH35, about 6km north of Waihau Bay in the Bay of Plenty about 10.35pm on Saturday.
On Sunday morning, a crash near Te Awamutu injured four people – three of them seriously – and closed part of SH3.
Director of Road Policing Superintendent Steve Greally said any death on the road is one too many, and we don’t want to have a repeat of last year’s road toll this year.
“We need everyone to play their part in reducing the amount of death and injury on the roads – Police and our road safety partners can only do so much.”
The official holiday period begins at 4pm on the Friday and ends at 6am on the Tuesday.
Heavy traffic expected
Based on previous years’ travel patterns, Waka Kotahi was predicting State Highway 1 at Kawakawa (South of Paihia/Bay of Islands), headed southbound, would see the heaviest traffic flow between 10.30am-2.30pm.
Southbound traffic between Puhoi and Wellsford was predicted to be at its highest between 11.30am-4pm, its website showed.
On State Highway 2, Waka Kotahi advised the heaviest westbound traffic between Paeroa and Waihi would likely be between 11am-4pm.
Southbound into Wellington, traffic at Remutaka Hill between Wellington and Featherston was set to be busy from 10.30am, and at its heaviest from 1.30-6.30pm.
Police earlier advised there would be a “significant, highly visible presence” on major highways over Labour Weekend, in an effort to deter unsafe driver behaviour.
Motorists are encouraged to visit the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner website www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz before they travel for real-time travel information, and updates on delays, roadworks and road closures.
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