Tauranga motorist Neville McKay, frustrated by "diabolical" road works, says traffic was moving so slowly he turned off his car and made "two cups of coffee" while standing on the road.
Neville was heading from Katikati past Wright Road, which he says took "over an hour" despite the distance being roughly 2km between the two roads.
"Afterwards it took me another 15 minutes to go 1.2km. It was an absolute nightmare," says Neville.
"It was all from the Morton Road works. At one point I got out, made two cups of coffee, talked to other people waiting, everyone was absolutely p'd off.
"I saw a few people turn around and go back to Tauranga to have dinner."
Tauranga motorist Neville McKay. Photo: File/SunLive.
Neville says he had a hot thermos in his car which he decided to put to use.
"I thought really what can you do? Turn the car off, save petrol, make a cuppa. No use keeping the motor running."
Neville's comments come after SunLive received numerous reports of long traffic queues near road works on Morton Road.
A Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency spokesperson says the long wait was due to the construction of a roundabout near Morton Road.
"The State Highway 2 Morton Road roundabout construction is nearing completion. Depending on the weather over the coming week we hope to complete the ‘concrete apron' (the circle of the roundabout) next Thursday," says the spokesperson.
"This will done outside of peak traffic flows. We will then be placing asphalt (night works), installing signs, roadmarking, and have landscaping and have other tidy up works to complete. Works are planned to be completed by early April on this site (weather permitting).
"Works on the project will be delayed slightly if we experience similar roading disruptions as we did in the last weather event. Our crews will be put onto storm clean up as a priority.
"Waka Kotahi appreciates that delays are frustrating and is grateful for drivers' patience as we work to make the road between Waihī and Ōmokoroa safer for everyone."
5 comments
PC
Posted on 11-02-2023 15:10 | By PGC
It wouldn't be so bad if after all this disruption it was a better road to travel on, but from what has been completed so far this clearly isn't the case. Same goes for Cameron Road!
no go
Posted on 11-02-2023 17:08 | By dumbkof2
just another woker no go
Roundabouts
Posted on 11-02-2023 18:27 | By Robin
These roundabouts are a joke. Rea Rd one we are told is finished. It’s full of potholes on the approach. Was new seal, now patches everywhere, disgusting ! Note no “Give Way” sign, will cause problems especially tourists! Next one Matahui Rd, madness!
An Absolute Disgrace
Posted on 12-02-2023 10:58 | By Mommatum
These road works both here and in Cameron Road are an absolute disgrace. Not just disruptions to traffic but the obviously “quick fix” job being done. Potholes on a supposedly “finished” project? If you’re going to do a job then do it properly. It may take a bit more time but the results will be far better than the current obviously slap dash approach. Not good enough.
Credibility.
Posted on 12-02-2023 13:32 | By morepork
What can Waka Kotahi do to improve and regain their lost credibility? We know that roading is difficult and we know it takes time and is costly. But there is no visible sign of road crews being keen to get the job done. We drive through kilometres of cones without a Human in sight, we see speed limits intended for the safety of workers, left in place after the workers go home, the people doing the stop/go signs seem to have no idea about how queuing is supposed to work; they simply time slice, and it is the least efficient option when there are intermittent arrivals. It should be automated. Highly used stretches of road should be worked on in multiple shifts. The sooner it is done, the better for everybody. Maybe there should be incentive bonuses in the road contract; get it done quicker, make more money...
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