The Transport Agency is defending the new Northern Gateway following heavy congestion on Friday morning.
Weekend holiday traffic was delayed by up to an hour between Puhoi and Warkworth. Queues of up to 17km were reported on State Highway One.
The 7.5km toll route was also heavily congested when it opened at Auckland's Anniversary Weekend.
Regional director Wayne McDonald says Waitangi weekend traffic and fine weather are to blame for the congestion on the $365 million toll road.
Despite the congestion, he claims motorists are adapting well to the electronic toll system.
Traffic is described as flowing freely on Saturday.
Mr McDonald says motorists returning south on Sunday should use an alternative route on SH16 to avoid a bottleneck at Warkworth.
