MEDIA RELEASE - AUCKLAND POLICE

Motorists and commuters in the greater Auckland region are urged to either get to work very early tomorrow morning - before 7.30am - or to avoid travelling on the region's motorways and streets altogether, so as not to get caught up in what will likely be hours of gridlock.

Police have been advised that up to 2,000 heavy trucks will converge on the city's CBD after travelling along northern, southern, eastern and western feeder motorways from about 7.30am.

Even if the truck numbers are significantly less, there will likely be heavy congestion at best in and around the CBD, at least until midday, if not beyond that.

While Police will be out in force to try and ensure public safety on the roads and to facilitate the free movement of emergency response vehicles, substantial delays for travellers are inevitable.

In essence, people should:

•      expect long delays on the roading network from around the region
•      get to work early or not at all
•      know that bus travel will be affected by the truckies' protest
•      remain tolerant and act with restraint

Acting Inspector Ross Endicott-Davies of the Auckland City Police District says Police will be doing their best to manage the event and work with the trucking industry.

"Traffic movements within the city will be controlled by SCATS (Sydney Controlled Automated Traffic System) but traffic flows are not expected to get back to normal for several hours after the protest has finished."

 He advised anyone who needed to get to the airport for early morning flights, to get there well in advance or to consider and staying overnight tonight in a hotel, or similar accommodation, near the airport.

Auckland protest route

Operators to gather at nearest motorway on ramp for 7.30 departure and take two routes off the motorway.

Route 1
Operators coming from west take Nelson St Off Ramp, From North Shore take Cook St Off Ramp onto Nelson St
Ø Right onto Victoria
Ø Right onto Queen, head UP Queen St
Ø Top Queen, left onto K Rd,
Ø Left Symond St
Ø Left Wellesley St
Ø Left Queen
Ø Repeat…

Route 2
Operators coming from south
Ø Off ramp Symonds

Ø Right into Upper Queen
Ø Down Queen, left into Wellesley
Ø Left Hobson
Ø Left Pitt
Ø Left K Rd
Ø Left Queen
Ø Repeat…

9:30 Disperse

Wellington protest

Operators will start at 7 am

Route 1
Assemble at Mackays Crosing
Mackays Crossing down State Highway One through Terrace Tunnel
Turn into Taranaki Street, down Jervois Quay
Left at Whitmore Street, past Parliament Building to Molesworth Street off-ramp

Route 2
Assemble at Seaview
Along Petone Esplanade down State Highway 2 motorway and through Terrace Tunnel
Turn into Taranaki Street, down Jervois Quay
Left at Whitmore Street, past Parliament Building to Molesworth Street off-ramp