Waka Kotahi is asking road users to plan ahead and keep a cool head this Auckland Anniversary weekend, with more people expected on the roads.

Waikato and Bay of Plenty director regional relationships, David Speirs, said people should expect more traffic on the roads, however, planning ahead can help alleviate some of the stress.

In the Waikato, delays are predicted on State Highway 2 between Pokeno and Maramarua, particularly heading east (toward the Coromandel Peninsula) from late morning to around 8pm Friday, and between 9am and 1pm on Saturday. Westbound (toward Pokeno), delays are expected on Monday between 11am and 9pm.

Further delays are predicted on State Highway 1 southbound between Karaprio and Tirau for much of Friday afternoon and into the evening, and again between 10am and 1pm on Saturday. Northbound, delays are expected between 3:30pm and 5pm on Sunday and between midday and 6:30pm on Monday, with traffic expected to be heaviest between 3pm and 5:30pm.

State Highway 25A at Tairua is expected to be busy for those travelling north on Friday afternoon and evening, and through the middle of the day on Saturday, with the heaviest traffic expected between 3pm and 6:30pm on Friday and between midday and 1pm Saturday. Southbound, delays are predicted for most of the day on Monday, with traffic expected to be heaviest between 11am and 5:30pm.

Three-way Stop/Go traffic management will be in place as required at the one-lane Pepe Bridge in Tairua on Friday afternoon, Saturday and Monday to assist with the flow of traffic.

“In the Bay of Plenty, motorists should be prepared for heavy traffic on State Highway 29 over the Kaimai Range, particularly heading east (toward Tauranga) on Friday afternoon into the evening and Saturday morning, with the heaviest traffic expected between 4pm and 6pm Friday. Westbound (toward the Waikato) motorists should expect delays on Monday between 10am and 6pm, with traffic expected to be at its worst between 10:30am and midday.

SH2 between Paeroa and Waihi is expected to be busy heading east (toward Waihi) on Friday between 2pm and 7pm, and from late morning to mid-afternoon Saturday. Traffic heading west (toward Paeroa, will be busy for most of Monday, with the heaviest traffic expected between 10:30am and 4:30pm.

People should also expect delays on SH2 between Katikati and Tauranga northbound (toward Katikati) between 1pm and 6pm on Friday and Monday, and southbound (toward Tauranga) on Friday afternoon, particularly between 3pm and 4pm, and Sunday morning, through to early afternoon.”

“More cars on the road, tired drivers and people driving on unfamiliar roads can make holiday driving stressful and risky,” Speirs said.

“We can all take simple actions to stay safe. That means checking your car is safe before your journey, keeping your speed down, driving sober, watching for the signs of fatigue and sharing the driving.”