Alternative routes recommended to bypass Hamilton V8 traffic

The Hamilton 400 V8 Supercars street race event is being held in Hamilton next week, from Thursday through to Sunday, and heavy event traffic is expected to cause delays.

Motorists travelling through the Waikato during the event, who are not going to the V8s or Hamilton, are advised to avoid SH1 and SH1B around Hamilton.

Motorists travelling between Auckland and Tirau, and all places south, who would normally travel on SH1, are advised to travel on SH2 and SH27 instead. Alternative route signs will be in place at the junction of SH1 and SH2 at Pokeno, at the junction of SH2 and SH27 at Mangatarata, and at the junction of SH1 and SH27 at Tirau. Signage will also be posted on SH1 at Ohinewai for traffic wanting to connect onto SH27 via Tahuna Road.

Motorists travelling between Auckland and Taranaki are advised to use SH39. Alternative route signs will be in place at the junction of SH1 and SH39 at Ngaruawhia and SH3 and SH39 at Otorohanga.

Motorists travelling to Hamilton to attend the V8 races are advised to follow the signs to the designated car parks and take the free bus into the city. The designated car parks are accessed off SH1B, which runs between Taupiri and Cambridge, and this highway is not recommended as a detour.

Transit regional manager Kaye Clark, says, "This is the first year of this event and we are expecting a lot of traffic. This is likely to cause congestion and delays on the state highway network around Hamilton, particularly on SH1 and SH1B."

"People travelling to the V8s are asked to be patient and courteous, and to allow more time than usual for their journey. People not coming to the V8s are strongly advised to take one of the alternative routes around Hamilton," Mrs Clark says.