Ponsonby oil spill causes traffic trouble

Photo / File

Several hundred litres of diesel spilled on Auckland's Ponsonby Rd this morning, causing havoc for motorists.

Emergency services were contacted about 8.10am after a car slid off the road and ended up on the grass at Western Park off Ponsonby Rd.

Ponsonby Fire Station officer Shane Olsen said it appeared a truck had leaked fuel as it drove up Williamson Ave, onto Ponsonby Rd and then down Hopetoun St.

The truck had not been located and Mr Olsen suspected its driver had not been aware of the leak.

He estimated several hundred litres of diesel had spilt.

The top of Williamson Ave and the intersection with Ponsonby Rd were the worst affected areas.

Traffic was becoming congested as Auckland Council staff worked to clean up the spill.

They were expected to be there for much of the day.

Motorists were advised to take care.

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Meanwhile, a large amount of diesel also spilled on the Kaimai Range in Bay of Plenty this morning.

Police said the spill on State Highway 29 began near Soldiers Rd on the Tauranga side and extended over the ranges and down towards Matamata.

The surface was extremely slippery and several vehicles had already slid off the road as a result.

Motorists were urged to slow down and take extreme care.