Auckland commuters were stuck in gridlocked traffic on Monday evening.
Video / Will Trafford / Chelsea Daniels
It is traffic groundhog day in Auckland, as commuters once again find themselves stuck in heavy congestion even before 6am.
Traffic cameras just before the Auckland Harbour Bridge are already showing long lines of vehicles trying their best to get over the bridge before peak hours.
But even before 6amthe situation is bad - with backlogs on State Highway 1 Northcote Rd and Esmonde Rd.
SH1 Onewa Rd looks somewhat better, with traffic flowing in the area just after 6am.
The traffic on SH1 Northcote Rd just before 6am. Image / NZTA
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency reported at 6am: "With reduced lanes on the harbour bridge, SH1 is already very heavy citybound from Tristram Ave."
Once again, people living on the North Shore who work in downtown Auckland are being asked to consider working from home, using alternative routes into the city centre or adjusting their work hours so they are travelling at non-peak hours.
Anyone heading from Albany to go to Manukau is in for a trip taking about an hour and five minutes according to the site. Again, that trip usually takes about 24 minutes.
SH1 AKL HBR BRIDGE - DELAYS - 6:00AM With reduced lanes on the Harbour Bridge #SH1 is already very heavy citybound from Tristram Ave. If you can't work from home consider using #WRR (SH18/16/20) and allow extra time. Check travel times live here: https://t.co/0hGPlya9St ^TP pic.twitter.com/DgAgmk0XoG
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) September 21, 2020
The drive into the CBD from Helensville, via the bridge, is about an hour and 20 minutes at the moment. Usually, that drive is about 37 minutes.
Traffic on SH1 Esmonde Rd just before 6am today. Image / NZTA
Motorists driving in via SH18/ SH16 are getting in much earlier - with the Silverdale to city drive taking 36 minutes.
Albany to Manukau via SH18/16/20 is about 42 minutes currently.
