Care needed after Bay crashes

A trailer overturned on SH29, one of several incidents causing traffic congestion yesterday. Photo/Andrew Warner

Police are calling for greater care from Bay drivers after a string of crashes around the region sparked traffic chaos, yesterday.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council closed the Old Highway at Whakamarama for several hours after a truck and trailer unit rolled.

A spokeswoman said two cranes were needed on site to recover the vehicles and the road closure, just north of Youngson Rd, was needed while this was being carried out.

Earlier in the day, State Highway 2 was closed at Esdaile Rd after a collision between a truck and a car. Traffic was diverted around the scene.

The crash happened moments after a five-car nose-to-tail on Maungatapu Bridge about 8.30am.

Senior Sergeant Mike Membery said no one was seriously hurt in the crashes but he urged drivers to be cautious.

"We ask people to give themselves a bit of extra time to get to where they are going ... people should take extra care," Mr Membery said.

Part of SH29 was blocked after a truck lost its load near Barkes Corner at Pyes Pa about 2.10pm.

The truck blocked the highway between the roundabout and the intersection of SH29 and Takitimu Drive for about an hour.