Police at the scene of an incident next to the Southern Motorway in Highbrook which led to the closure of all southbound lanes. Video / Dean Purcell
A bomb scare caused commuter chaos on an Auckland motorway this afternoon, leading to a partial closure and long delays.
Counties Manukau CIB Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Hayward said police were notified of a body near a walkway in the suburb of Highbrook about 11.30am.
Hayward said police also founddevices resembling improvised explosive devices (IED) or similar.
“The area was immediately cordoned off, including the closure of SH1 between Princes St and Highbrook Dr,” he said.
“The Police Specialist Search Group and the NZDF Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team were deployed to the scene. Specialists have carried out a thorough examination of the immediate area and have located two objects.
“Both objects have been safely removed from the scene.”
The scene on the Southern Motorway at Highbrook, where the State Highway 1 southbound lanes were closed due to a police operation. Photo / Dean Purcell.
Hayward said initial enquiries indicate the items were not IEDs and further investigations were underway.
He said police would remain at the scene by the walkway where the man’s body was located.
“A detailed scene examination will be carried out this evening and this is expected to carry on into Wednesday,” he said.
“Police can reassure the public that the situation is contained and there are no immediate concerns for anyone’s safety.”
The 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.
Part of a walkway has been taped off next to the Southern Motorway in Highbrook due to a police operation. Photo / Dean Purcell
“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.
