Traffic Response Encouraging

New Zealand Police APEC Special Ops

Auckland commuters seem to be taking the road closure messages to heart with encouraging signs that traffic flows were a bit lighter than usual in the peak periods.

Police temporarily closed extra streets between 7am and 9am and will do so again between 4pm and 6pm to facilitate Apec Leaders' motorcade movements to and from the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

The temporary closures take in:

Victoria Street East, Bowen Avenue, Waterloo Quadrant, Alten Road, Stanley Street and Lower Domain Drive, The eastern lane of Nelson Street between Victoria and Wyndham Upper Symonds and Wakefield Streets Victoria between Albert and Queen Streets.

Points staff are on duty and will reopen roads as soon as the motorcades have passed through. There will be disruption to central city traffic but Police are asking motorists to stay calm.

The early signs are encouraging and it seems commuters have staggered their start times with traffic heavier than usual before 7am, and then dropping off. Police are reminding motorists to take care in the heavy rain, reduce their speeds and watch following distances.

The primary city link will remain closed throughout the day.

There will also be some disruptions to traffic late afternoon and into the evening as eight Apec Leaders as well as some Ministers and their delegations leave the city.

Leaders from New Zealand, China and Chile will leave from Whenuapai between 7pm and 9pm. They will travel via the primary city link, Hobson Street, the northwestern motorway to Whenuapai.

There will be no motorway closures with only motorcycles to facilitate the motorcade movements in the right hand lanes.

Similar assistance will be given to the Leaders of Mexico and Russia who are leaving for Auckland International Airport directly from the Museum, and also to the Leaders of Australia, Brunei and Canada.

These motorcades will be escorted by motorcycles and provided with a 'green wave' (controlled traffic light assistance) through Hobson Street on-ramp, Gillies Avenue, The Drive, Pah Road, Queenstown Road, Mangere Motorway and Puhinui Road.

The departure movements are scheduled late afternoon through to around 7.30pm. The motorway will not be closed.

It's been a busy time for those controlling the motorcades with 273 movements taking place yesterday around the central city.

© Scoop Media