Traffic flow rate AKL Southern Motorway

**Gremlin** · 18th March 2016, 14:56

Originally Posted by trufflebutter

I thought the Auckland M/Way was only open between the hours of 1am and 3am? the rest of the time it's either basically or actually closed.

Last January I was working on Ironman 70.3 in Auckland, had to be in the CBD at 0400 on a Sunday. I was surprised how many vehicles were actually out at 0345 on the Southern... I expected nothing

Oh, and the motorway is mostly open for motorcycles... my travel times don't vary too much during traffic hours. Obviously a bit quicker at night.

**trufflebutter** · 18th March 2016, 15:35

Originally Posted by Gremlin

Last January I was working on Ironman 70.3 in Auckland, had to be in the CBD at 0400 on a Sunday. I was surprised how many vehicles were actually out at 0345 on the Southern... I expected nothing

Oh, and the motorway is mostly open for motorcycles... my travel times don't vary too much during traffic hours. Obviously a bit quicker at night.

Competitors getting the starting point perhaps?

**Big Dog** · 18th March 2016, 17:37

This sort of thing doesn't help. http://www.newshub.co.nz/nznews/truc...way-2016031812

**gjm** · 18th March 2016, 17:56

Originally Posted by trufflebutter

A family friend lived in Browns bay but worked in Wiri, he moved to just north of Thames right on the waters edge, the commute was the same but the life style so much better.

This.

I work in Manukau, but live (at the moment) in Te Kauwhata. Commute time? About 40 minutes. I know people who work in our office who live in Botany, and take as long to get into work.

**kiwi-on-wheels** · 19th March 2016, 00:21

Live in Howick, atm working in the city.

If im in the car I need to be out the door by 20 past 6 to be at work by 7

On the bike, I can leave at nearly 20 to 7 and still be in the city in time. Pushing it tho. Have found however I dont get nearly as frustrated by the traffic when im on the bike, which makes my evenings muuuuch nicer

**5ive** · 19th March 2016, 01:15

Originally Posted by gjm

This.

I work in Manukau, but live (at the moment) in Te Kauwhata. Commute time? About 40 minutes. I know people who work in our office who live in Botany, and take as long to get into work.

Yep, I live just to the East of you over the hills, and work in Central Auckland. My 100km commute via bike takes less time than most of my work mates who still live in Auckland, and I can do it in about an hour.

As an example, two of them are commuting from Te Atatu, which without traffic would take about 15 minutes. On most days though, it's an hour or two...

Life is better, closer to family, don't have to worry about moving again, and the mortgage is cheaper than renting in Auckland.

Complaining about congestion on the Southern Motorway is futile, it's just going to get worse... older folks who complain about the traffic, should probably just piss off and enjoy their pensions, and leave the hard working tax payers to get on with their living hell. They'll never have it as easy.

Here's a good guide to live traffic flow on the motorway though, if you ever want to plan a trip: https://at.govt.nz/driving-parking/live-traffic-congestion/

**gjm** · 19th March 2016, 08:50

Originally Posted by 5ive

Yep, I live just to the East of you over the hills, and work in Central Auckland. My 100km commute via bike takes less time than most of my work mates who still live in Auckland, and I can do it in about an hour.

As an example, two of them are commuting from Te Atatu, which without traffic would take about 15 minutes. On most days though, it's an hour or two...

We're considering moving a little further south and west - there's a place in Waingaro that looks nice.
When in Raglan last weekend we were talking to some people who live there and commute to Auckland, and there's folk in the village (TK) who commute to the North Shore.

Sure, it's quite a distance, but the compensation of living somewhere really nice makes it all worthwhile.

**5ive** · 19th March 2016, 09:00

Originally Posted by gjm

Sure, it's quite a distance, but the compensation of living somewhere really nice makes it all worthwhile.

Yep, we enjoy "Living" outside of Auckland. It's much better than "existing" in Auckland

Good luck, hope it works out for you.

**Maha** · 19th March 2016, 09:30

We live 40 minutes north of Taupo ...by a smaller lake, population just over 700. People commute to Rotorua/Taupo and Tokoroa for work, maximum travelling time is 45 minutes, which is to Rotorua. What is achievable in these smaller community's is home ownership/piece and quiet and all round lifestyle enhancement.

**Blackbird** · 19th March 2016, 09:38

Originally Posted by Maha

We live 40 minutes north of Taupo ...by a smaller lake, population just over 700. People commute to Rotorua/Taupo and Tokoroa for work, maximum travelling time is 45 minutes, which is to Rotorua. What is achievable in these smaller community's is home ownership/piece and quiet and all round lifestyle enhancement.

Absolutely

. We moved permanently to Coromandel in 2008 and have never regretted it. Sure, it's a couple of hours to Hamilton, Tauranga or Auckland but we don't need to go very often. Outside the 2 weeks over Xmas and bank holidays, traffic is light and in small communities, people still look out for each other. No complaints at all. There's a lot of good living outside the main centres

**Hubris** · 19th March 2016, 11:28

If they ever did a super-fast ferry to the Coromandel you'd be over-run with us Aucklanders wanting to live there, not just own a batch.

Originally Posted by Blackbird

Absolutely

. We moved permanently to Coromandel in 2008 and have never regretted it. Sure, it's a couple of hours to Hamilton, Tauranga or Auckland but we don't need to go very often. Outside the 2 weeks over Xmas and bank holidays, traffic is light and in small communities, people still look out for each other. No complaints at all. There's a lot of good living outside the main centres

**Blackbird** · 19th March 2016, 11:42

Originally Posted by Hubris

If they ever did a super-fast ferry to the Coromandel you'd be over-run with us Aucklanders wanting to live there, not just own a batch.

In that case, I'm pleased that the current daily ferry only returns to Auckland around 1800

. When I retired at 60, my old employer kept me on as a consultant for a year. Most of it was done by computer with a weekly or fortnightly 2 hour drive each way to the work site. It was a nice way to ease into full time retirement. If you could commute daily, it would double (or more) house prices here and the lifestyle would be screwed

**Maha** · 19th March 2016, 11:48

Originally Posted by Hubris

If they ever did a super-fast ferry to the Coromandel you'd be over-run with us Aucklanders wanting to live there, not just own a batch.

Never going to happen, in saying that, parts of the Coromandel Peninsular are popular, the eastern side more so during the summer months obviously. Then everyone fucks off back to their grinding metropolis for the next 11 months.