Auckland traffic: Puhoi to Warkworth now open to vehicles, thick fog causing issues

The Puhoi to Warkworth motorway is now open to traffic.

Members of the public are taking to social media to share their excitement at the news of the opening, which has been highly anticipated by locals in particular.

On a local Warkworth community Facebook page, people started posting that the road had opened from about 5am.

Johnny Shore said he left Warkworth at 5am and was in the Auckland CBD by 5.35am.

“That’s no traffic,” he said.

Another person said the road opened late last night and that it took them 15 minutes to travel to Silverdale.

Car on fire on Auckland motorway

Meanwhile, emergency services are responding to a car fire on a southbound lane on Auckland’s Southwestern Motorway, just after Walmsley Rd.

The incident was reported by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency at 6.20am.

Video footage from a traffic camera shows flames coming out of a vehicle with its driver’s side door wide open.

All lanes have now been cleared.

“Allow extra time as delays ease”, says Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.

UPDATE - 6:55AM
This has been cleared of all lanes. Allow extra time as delays ease. ^HJ https://t.co/U38AG2leMh

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) June 18, 2023

No injuries have been reported, police said earlier this morning.

Pockets of thick fog

Auckland city covered in fog, looking across from Devonport. Photo / Hayden Woodward

The incident comes as motorists around the city are having to navigate heavy fog on parts of the motorway network and locals roads.

A woman driving into the city from New Lynn, West Auckland, said: “Visibility is terrible on Auckland’s western roads.”

Auckland Airport put fog restrictions in place overnight; with an alert being sent out just before 12.30am.

One domestic flight was delayed due to fog. However, no domestic flights were cancelled. No international flights were affected by fog either.

Photo taken at 5.25am on Monday morning shows heavy fog on Northwestern Motorway. Photo / Hayden Woodward