Transit New Zealand
Auckland Regional Office

26 January 2005

Media Release

Alternative routes recommended this Auckland Anniversary weekend

Motorists travelling north during the holiday period should be on the lookout for road signs on State Highway 1 (SH1) directing them to State Highway 16 (SH16) that could make their journey less stressful.

Transit New Zealand, the New Zealand Police and Rodney District Council will be working closely to help make travelling easier and safer for the large number of people expected to head north over the coming holiday season.

The main thrust of the inter-agency strategy will be to minimise, as far as possible, congestion on the 30 kilometre stretch of SH1 between Silverdale and Warkworth.

When queue's start developing, signs will direct motorists to leave SH1 and take State Highway 16 (SH16), to avoid congestion and delays that are often experienced at peak times on SH1 between Silverdale and Wellsford over holiday weekends.

SH16 can be easily reached by travelling to the end of the Northwestern Motorway and then through Kumeu and Helensville to Wellsford. Alternatively, it can be reached from SH1 via the Silverdale off-ramp, then SH17 and Kahikatea Flat Road.

"It makes sense for people travelling past Wellsford to destinations such as Dargaville, Whangarei and beyond, to go around Orewa by using SH16 which is only 12 kilometres longer than SH1, but without the lengthy delays experienced on SH1," says Transit Regional Manager (Acting) Richard Hancy.

"Over past holiday periods, such as Christmas and New Year, many holidaymakers took advantage of the alternative route and enjoyed reduced travelling times and less stressful motoring."

More information for motorists, and a map showing the alternative route, is available at http://www.transit.govt.nz/ .

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