Holiday traffic is set to increase on key North Island highways today, with NZ Transport Agency anticipating the heaviest congestion in Auckland, through the Waikato, and at Wellington’s northern gateway. Thousands of motorists are hitting the road over the Christmas break as people move all around the country to squeeze in time with family and friends. The single biggest pressure point is predicted to be on the Southern Motorway between Manukau and Bombay, where southbound traffic on Christmas Eve is forecast to reach its heaviest levels between 10.30am and 3.30pm. The notoriously busy stretch of road is expected remain so through Christmas Day (heaviest between 10am and 1.30pm) and Boxing Day (10am and 11.30am). Northbound lanes are also expected to slow for long periods as travellers head to Auckland for Christmas. North of Tāmaki Makaurau, SH1 between Pūhoi and Wellsford also looks to be busy across all three days, with Boxing Day emerging as the worst as holiday-goers head to Northland for the summer break. NZTA has forecast where the major traffic chokepoints will be these holidays to help drivers better prepare for the roads. Northbound traffic is expected to be busy from late morning through to early afternoon that day, peaking between 11am and 2.30pm, while further north, congestion is projected to form near Kawakawa for an hour in the afternoon. Waikato will also see sustained pressure, particularly on SH1 between Tīrau and Karapiro, where traffic will steadily build over the coming days and peak northbound on Boxing Day around midday. The eastbound route of SH2 between Pōkeno and Maramarua is forecast to see its heaviest congestion on Boxing Day from mid-morning through to early afternoon, as people move towards the Coromandel and Bay of Plenty for New Year’s. Traffic volumes are also expected to stack up at the northern edge of Wellington as motorists come off Transmission Gully, with a chokepoint at Ōhau, near Levin, creating traffic both ways. The worst congestion is expected northbound on Boxing Day from 10am to 12.30pm, while steady traffic is forecast southbound as people return to the capital. On the Kāpiti Coast, traffic between Peka Peka and Ōtaki is anticipated late morning on both Christmas Day and Boxing Day, while northbound queues on SH2 through Petone will most likely be seen between 11am and 12.30pm today. Traffic is expected to be the worst on Auckland's Southern Motorway, between Manukau and Bombay. Photo / Nick Reed Elsewhere in the North Island, SH29 through the Kaimai Ranges between Waikato and Tauranga will be busy on the mornings of Christmas and Boxing Day, both ways. Aside from traffic on SH1 through Timaru, which is expected to continue both ways until midday today, much of the South Island should remain relatively clear until Boxing Day, when congestion begins to spread across popular holiday routes. SH1 northbound through North Canterbury and Kaikōura, and from Ashburton to Christchurch, will be busy from late morning into the afternoon, while traffic heading into Queenstown via SH6 is projected for much of Boxing Day. “Every holiday period and long weekend, we see large numbers of people heading out of the main centres to popular holiday destinations,” NZTA said. “This can cause queues and delays.” NZTA’s advice for safe travel includes planning your trip well in advance, avoiding peak travel times where possible, allowing extra time for journeys and taking regular breaks.