Auckland commuters should prepare for increased congestion in the coming weeks as university students return and traffic volumes rise. Both public transport and roadways are expected to be affected.
Traffic Increases Anticipated
Automobile Association policy director Martin Glynn stated traffic has already increased over the past week and is likely to worsen throughout March. He noted that while it’s difficult to predict the extent of the increase, journey times on the Southern Motorway could climb by at least six minutes this week, with three-minute increases expected on the Northwestern and Southwestern Motorways.
Glynn acknowledged that Auckland’s population grew by approximately 1% last year, contributing to increased road usage. However, he also pointed out that the current economic climate could potentially mitigate some of that increase.
Transport Authorities Prepare
Auckland Transport Operations Centre (AOTC) manager Claire Howard said her team will be actively managing traffic flow. This includes adjusting traffic signals, providing estimated journey times on digital displays, and monitoring roads across the network.
Frequently Asked Questions
What modes of transport will be affected?
Commuters are likely to be affected regardless of whether they travel by bus, train, ferry, or private vehicle.
What is being done to manage the congestion?
Auckland Transport will be implementing reactive responses, including managing traffic signals, deploying estimated journey times, and monitoring roads.
How much longer can commuters expect their journeys to take?
The average journey on the Southern Motorway is expected to climb by at least six minutes this week, and three minutes on the Northwestern Motorway and the Southwestern Motorway.
Given the anticipated increase in traffic, how will you adjust your commute this March?
