Traffic congestion at the Domain Road roundabout in Papamoa is being put down to a combination of road works and the fall-out from last night's fatal hit and run in Welcome Bay.
Police closed a section of Welcome Bay Road, between James Cook Drive and Kaitemako Road, when a 33-year-old Merivale man was hit by a car around 11pm.
Traffic was at a standstill in Papamoa this morning.
The road was re-opened around 9am this morning.
Kairua Road was briefly used as a diversion route, but this was changed to Welcome Bay Road where it emerges onto State Highway 2.
This, along with regular traffic trying to navigate the Tauranga Eastern Link road works, caused significant congestion and delays in people's travels.
The Transport Agency is aware that there have been 20-30 minutes delays at the State Highway 2/Domain Road roundabout over the past two mornings, says the NZ Transport Agency.
'The congestion experienced this morning was mainly created due to a fatal hit and run on Welcome Bay Road late last night,” says a spokesperson.
'Police were forced to close Welcome Bay Road until approximately 8.40am and traffic from that area was diverted onto SH2 creating congestion through the Domain Road roundabout.”
Work is continuing to complete the new SH2/Domain Road roundabout over the coming weeks.
There will be temporary traffic management in place and motorists may experience minor delays during this time.
'Traffic congestion is expected to improve substantially as the new layout will provide two lanes to traffic travelling to Tauranga from Tara and Domain Roads,” they add.
4 comments
T.C.C
Posted on 03-02-2015 16:47 | By NZgirl
Stopping all free school buses this has lots to do with this traffic. Most parents are now taking their children to school in cars now.
WHY??
Posted on 03-02-2015 16:59 | By wannabeme
Was Kairua Road open only briefly? The traffic would have flowed alot better had it been able to come onto the highway away from the roundabout. Could of avoided some of the congestion and not to mention the time it took to continue along welcome Bay Road.
smart
Posted on 03-02-2015 18:03 | By mattbz
A taste of things to come when the roundabout goes in at Te Puna.
lesson learnt
Posted on 04-02-2015 13:35 | By whatsinaname
hope this is a lesson learnt to all concern. In case of emergency, any emergency there is always going to be traffic problems like this if not worse. TGA has no escape routes or alternative routes in or out of welcome bay that could evacuate the community. Other places in the area the same..Papamoa another one......
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