Heavy Auckland motorway congestion beginning to ease

Auckland's gridlock was likely caused by bad weather. Photo / NZTA

Congestion on Auckland's motorways is now easing.

Earlier this evening, NZTA said traffic was "very heavy" on the Southern Motorway. About 5.50pm it was taking nearly two hours to get from Auckland to Papakura.

A disgruntled motorist heading to Rotorua told the Herald at 7pm that it had taken nearly two hours to get from the CBD to the Hill Rd, Manurewa offramp.

"It's not even like there are any accidents or anything. It has been snail's pace the entire way. A very boring, slow journey."

Another commuter travelling north on the southern motorway said it took an hour to drive from Takanini to the city.

Quay St was also gridlocked.

#AklTraffic remains VERY HEAVY on the Southern Mwy this evening, taking nearly 2hrs CBD to Papakura. Consider delaying your journey ^TP pic.twitter.com/nvCkorCRpa

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) November 25, 2016

Traffic was heavy at sections of the Northern Motorway, particularly between the bridge and the CBD and between Onewa and Esmond Rd offramps northbound.

But the Northwestern Motorway was flowing relatively well.

Meanwhile, further north in the Dome Valley, one person in a critical condition and another person with serious injuries had been flown to hospital by the Auckland Westpac Rescue helicopter.

The crash was causing delays of up to 45 minutes this evening because State Highway 1 is closed in both directions between Wellsford and Warkworth.

Auckland's gridlock was likely caused by bad weather and worsened by the Dome Valley crash, Timesaver Traffic said.