Kiwis heading away on Friday afternoon for the Christmas break should be prepared for heavy traffic and are being warned to allow extra time.
At 1:30pm, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) advised that Auckland's Southern Highway at Takanini could be busy going both ways. Traffic cameras at 5pm showed a steady stream of traffic.
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The SH1/SH20 Interchange going south in Manukau City looked to be clogged about 4pm, but no advisory about the stretch of road has been released.
Another warning was also released for SH1 Puhoi to Wellsford Northbound for up until 6pm.
A crash has blocked the right southbound lane on the Wellington SH1 Paraparaumu Kapiti Rd off-ramp. NZTA advised passing with care and to expect minor delays.
NZTA has also created an interactive summer holidays journey map to track the expected level of traffic across the holiday break.
It is currently advising the two days with the heaviest traffic was Friday and Sunday January 6 for the northbound lanes south of Auckland.
For those going south from Auckland, the heaviest days are expected to be Sunday December 23 and Christmas Eve.
December 30 and January 2 is expected to be busy for those in Wellington, while the northbound Waimakariri exit from Christchurch is predicted to be heavy on December 27.
While driving in the holidays, the NZTA advises to plan ahead, be alert of changes, to drive to the conditions.
Newshub.
