Chronic congestion causes headaches

Some commuting times in northern Christchurch have tripled due to chronic traffic, as new measures designed to reduce congestion face teething issues.

Traffic moving south along Marshland Rd has been among the most congested in the city in recent weeks due to increased traffic volumes and road works.

It usually takes about 15 minutes to travel from Kaiapoi to the Homebase shopping centre, but some drivers have reported commutes of 45 minutes during peak times.

Congestion on the northern approach to the city was supposed to ease with the introduction of a variable speed limit this month, but the NZ Transport Agency acknowledged it had not worked.

Signs placed by Ohoka Rd on the northern motorway enforce a lower speed limit during peak hours, forcing traffic to slow before reaching Belfast.

Technical issues and uncertainty about the best time to switch the signs on had led to teething issues.

‘‘This technology is new to Christchurch and we’re still working to find the best time to switch on the signs each day,’’ said southern regional director Jim Harland.

‘‘We know the variable speed limits have worked well overseas and in Wellington, however, to be successful it is critical drivers observe the speed limit and keep a constant speed.

‘‘It is the stop/start, speed up/ slow down driving that makes it hard to keep everyone moving.’’

He asked drivers to be patient while the issues were resolved.

Once drivers make it off the motorway, they are encountering more problems – higher traffic volumes and road works.

Traffic volumes were 12 per cent higher than usual last week, and varied throughout each day.

Marshland Rd has also been subject to road works.

The work was scheduled to be completed by the end of May.

Dozens of Waimakariri commuters criticised the variable speed limit and the slow commute on social media website Neighbourly. One called the limit a ‘‘cruel joke’’because traffic was already gridlocked by the time cars reached the signs.

‘‘I thought it ironic to have this stupid light flashing 75[kmh] when you could barely travel at 7 . . . The congestion is hideous,’’ Penny Mulholland, from Rangiora, said.

‘‘The traffic is just a joke on the motorway now. I have lived in North Canterbury for 10 years and before the [earthquake], the traffic was fine. These speed signs in my opinion have made traffic congestion worse,’’ Joanna King, from Fernside, said.