Southern Motorway: Commuter chaos as lanes reopen in Highbrook, Auckland after police operation

Commuters are facing lengthy delays after a section of Auckland’s Southern Motorway was impacted by a police operation.

Auckland’s Southern Motorway reopened after the sudden closure to the southbound lanes of State Highway 1 between Princes St East and Highbrook Drive in Highbrook from 12.40pm.

Just before 3pm, all lanes on SH1 reopened.

Traffic had been building on the southbound lanes of the southwestern motorway this afternoon as motorists avoided the closure.

Drivers across Auckland shared their frustration on social media as the congestion worsened during the kick-off of rush hour.

Rush hour commuters are facing lengthy delays after a section of Auckland’s Southern Motorway was impacted by an “ongoing operation”, police say. Photo / Google Maps

“Has anyone actually got home? I’ve been driving from Greenlane to Takanini since 1.30pm ... and I’m still 40 minutes away,” one person said.

“Everyone and their mother is going through Penrose and Sylvia. I’m on Neilson St right now and it’s jam-packed from Mt Smart to Onehunga,” another said.

Multiple routes across Auckland are taking up to 50% longer than on a typical day of free-flowing traffic.

Albany to Manukau via SH18/16/20 is set to take 1 hour and 24 minutes, when it would take 32 minutes without traffic, the NZTA journey planner said.

Commuters travelling from the city to Bombay could see the journey take up to 1 hour and 51minutes.

This journey would normally take 37 minutes.

Police have not yet revealed details on what caused the road closure.

They said the incident had been in a walkway next to the southbound lanes.

“[The closure] is out of an abundance of caution for motorists while the operation is carried out.

“Police will provide further details in due course.”

Part of a walkway has been taped off next to the Southern Motorway in Highbrook due to a police operation. Photo / Dean Purcell

A police officer on a pathway next to a closed section of the Southern Motorway in Highbrook this afternoon. Photo / Dean Purcell

Police staff and emergency tape could be seen on the walkway, which is next to the upper part of Tāmaki River.

Traffic builds up southbound on SH1, Auckland, as a police operation closes off a section of motorway in Highbrook.

Hato Hone St John said it had two rapid response vehicles on standby: “No other involvement from us”.

A motorist described the situation: “It’s gridlocked - standstill”.

All southbound lanes on a section of the Souithern Motorway near Highbrook were closed this afternoon due to a police operation. Photo / Dean Purcell.

Photos taken by motorists show three lanes of traffic being guided off the motorway.

“A detour is available via the Mt Wellington offramp, through Great South Rd and rejoining at Highbrook Dr,” NZTA said.