Traffic: Slow start for Auckland commuters

Traffic at Bond St looking West. Photo / NZTA

It's a slow start to the working week for motorway commuters in Auckland this morning.

NZTA Auckland and Northland tweeted just after 8.30am that the breakdown in the eastbound lane on the Northwestern Motorway just before Great North Rd was clear, but it was still a slow journey into the city for commuters.

"Traffic is crawling from Hobsonville, taking over an hour."

"#AklTraffic is congested from Hobsonville."

A breakdown is blocking the left lane E-Bnd on Nth Wstn Mwy, prior to Great Nth Rd off-ramp. #AklTraffic is congested from Hobsonville ^LC

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) February 14, 2016

Earlier this morning a breakdown blocked the left city-bound lane on the Harbour Bridge, and journeys were taking up to 80 minutes from Oteha Valley to downtown Auckland, they tweeted just before 8am when the breakdown was cleared.

The government agency's twitter feed took the opportunity to encourage jammed up motorists to instead breeze into the city by bus.

"Thought about trying the Northern Express? Currently 25mins from Albany to the city via #NEXbus; or over 80mins via car on the motorway."

Traffic was also slow on the southern motorway about 6.30am, after a nose to tail in the northbound lanes at Takanini. Motorists were warned to expect congestion from Papakura.