Traffic is usually heavy on the Northwestern from Hobsonville, Massey and Lincoln Rds most days, particularly due to continued road works between Royal Rd and Lincoln Rd on the motorway that slow motorists down.
The crash came after another one blocked two right lanes, citybound, on the Northwestern near the Newton offramp just before 6am.
The site was quickly cleared about 6.10am, but traffic had already started to build in the area as people were heading into work.
Traffic cameras showed at least two vehicles blocking the two right lanes and a long snake of vehicles moving at a crawl on the one left lane.
Motorists coming in from south of the city were not spared either - with a crash on the Southern Motorway leaving the right lane blocked just after Princes St.
