Traffic backed up on Moire Rd, near the North Western Motorway. Photo / Supplied
Traffic backed up on Moire Rd, near the North Western Motorway. Photo / Supplied
Motorists in Auckland and Wellington faced painful commutes into the cities after a series of motorway problems this morning.
Auckland's city-bound traffic faced lengthy delays due to breakdowns, crashes and road closures on the South Western, Southern and North Western Motorways.
Meanwhile, Wellington's Terrace Tunnel has reopened after earlier beingclosed to southbound traffic due to an incident involving an "overheight" vehicle.
SH1 TERRACE TUNNEL, SOUTHBOUND - OVER-HEIGHT VEHICLE - 8:20AM Due to an over-height vehicle, the #TerraceTunnel is closed to all southbound traffic. Expect significant southbound delays. Please consider delaying travel. ^RS pic.twitter.com/XBSXBBz8d0
The tunnel had recently reopened, but there were still "significant delays", the NZTA said.
It said motorists could expect delays from the Ngauranga interchange.
In Auckland, the latest delay to hit motorists on a wet Monday morning was a breakdown blocking the right northbound lane on the South Western Motorway about 8.20am.
This was quickly pushed clear, but NZTA photos showed traffic backed up heavy behind the breakdown.
SH20 MANGERE BRIDGE - BREAKDOWN - 8:20AM A breakdown is blocking the right lane northbound on the Southwestern Mwy's Mangere Bridge. Merge left to pass with care & expect some delays. ^TP pic.twitter.com/a8E9p77Ppj
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) February 17, 2019
An earlier crash also took place on State Highway 1 at Princes St at 6.25am and had blocked the right lane heading towards the city for about one hour.
However, the crash had now been cleared, with all three city-bound lanes now reopened, the NZ Transport Agency tweeted.
"Please allow extra time with delays from Manukau," the agency tweeted.
SH16 BRIGHAM-LINCOLN - DELAYS - 7:50AM Full access to the Northwestern Mwy (SH16) southbound through the Westgate area is now available however long delays are being experienced. Delay your journey if possible or allow extra time. ^TP pic.twitter.com/XhZ4Kh0SaA
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) February 17, 2019
A tow truck was on its way to the crash.
Meanwhile, city-bound commuters on the North Western Motorway faced extensive delays due to weekend roadworks running overtime.
The road closure had stretched from the Hobsonville Rd on-ramp to Brigham Creek Rbt and SH18 link.
UPDATE 6:50AM Hobsonville Rd on-ramp aand Brigham Creek Rbt both NOW OPEN for southbound access to SH16. Link from SH18 will open shortly. Congestion is heavy in the area. Avoid this route if possible. ^TP https://t.co/YiTGEaFlSe
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) February 17, 2019
The NZTA tweeted that the Hobsonville Rd on-ramp and Brigham Creek Rbt had both reopened just before 7am with the SH18 ramp reopening shortly after.
"Congestion is heavy in the area. Avoid this route if possible," the agency tweeted.
One motorist told the Herald that traffic on Moire Rd leading up to the Royal Rd on-ramp was "horrendous, and worst I've ever seen" in the nine years she had lived in the area.
Traffic had queued along Moire Rd about 1km back to Luckens Rd, when normally the longest the traffic backed up to was half that distance, she said.
Traffic backed up on Moire Rd, near the North Western Motorway. Photo / Supplied
Adding to the troubles on Moire Rd had been an incident between a car and cyclist about 7.30am.
"It appears the cyclist was hit by a car and sustained minor to moderate injuries. The cyclist was taken to hospital to get assessed," a police spokeswoman said.
The earlier SH16 closures had been caused by roadworks operations running over time under the Royal Rd overbridge.
Drivers should delay their journeys if possible and consider using SH18 or SH1 to travel south.
Motorists face heavy delays on the Northwestern Motorway. Image / NZTA
Meanwhile, further south in Blenheim, a pedestrian has been critically injured after being struck by a truck just after 6am.
The crash occurred near the intersection of Hillocks Rd and Rapaura Rd in Springs Creek.
Rapaura Rd is closed between Cravens Rd and State Highway 1 while emergency services work at the scene.
A van also rolled down a bank and into a ditch west of Auckland just before 8am.
One person was trapped in the incident on Candia Rd in the Henderson Valley, but was able to be freed by emergency services, a police spokeswoman said.
The person had moderate to minor injuries, while the van was towed from the scene.
