House being transported falls from truck on to State Highway 16, closing road

An attempt to clear the house from State highway 16 at Kumeu will be made this morning. Photo/Police

A house being transported on State Highway 16 near Kumeu has fallen off a truck, blocking the road and forcing the highway's closure.

Traffic is reportedly backlogged at the site of the fall and NZTA has advised the road will be closed for a long period this morning.

The incident occurred 100m north of the Old North Rd roundabout around 5.50am.

The road is blocked in both directions between Old Railway Rd and Old North Rd. No one was injured, police said.

A house blocks State highway 16 at Kumeu after falling from a truck this morning. Photo/Police

Auckland resident Greg Martin said he watched the house fall off the back of the truck as it entered a corner by the Kumeu vegetable store.

He had been following the truck for some time and said it seemed to be stable.

The structure that had fallen on the road was one of two sections of the house being transported on two trucks, he said.

The house had slipped when the second truck went into a tight corner by the Kumeu Produce store.

A house being transported on a State Highway 16 near Kumeu has fallen off a truck and has closed the highway. Photo / Kiri Parrish

"The front truck went through ok. Then the second one sort of flipped off and went in slow motion.

"It crashed on to the road and slid from the back first."

He said the house had not crumbled on impact but it looked like there was significant damage to it.

UPDATE 8:00AM
Congestion around Kumeu has largely eased, but #SH16 remains closed as recovery of this crash continues. Avoid the area south of Kumeu or allow extra time for travel with #SH16 expected to be closed for a long period this morning. ^TP
https://t.co/83vdM3AHTZ

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) November 26, 2018

Motorists were being asked to avoid the area or expect delays.