It is entirely predictable that anyone trying to pass through the Kapiti Coast on popular weekends or holiday periods have been advised to take food and water with them. This advice from transport authorities will be the norm as people picnic beside their vehicle in the endless queue for hours at a time.
Unless you travel to miss the peak it is now quicker for anyone from Porirua south to travel via the Wairarapa to Bulls than via SH1 on their way north. At least you can travel at a comfortable pace rather than sitting fuming in the snarl up from Pukerua Bay to Pukehou.
Unfortunately there is no immediate plan to fix this problem. The addition of a speed restriction and intersection improvements at Paekakariki with possibly traffic lights will just make matters worse.
There are no plans for any improvements through Kapiti by Transit. There is however going to be another study undertaken. Also they are going to fiddle with the Otaki SH1 roundabout.
Three years ago there was a full plan prepared to upgrade SH1 from Peka Peka to Pukehou with provision for an Otaki bypass and second river bridge. After full community consultation this was deferred for 15 years, with no movement to designate the route.
The mind can only boggle what Transmission Gully would do to the bottleneck if this ever proceeds and hits the cart track through Kapiti.
The KCDC believes that people must travel through their townships on the highway at 50kph interfacing with the local roads or somehow the district will die.
It is funny how Porirua has taken off with a great Town Centre but you have to turn off SH1 to visit. Plenty do with safety and no effort whatsoever. Go figure.