Snow closes roads as cold air surges from Antarctic.
A large gantry has fallen onto a north Auckland road, adding to traffic woes as wild weather buffets the city.
Drivers heading east from the Hibiscus Coast Highway are being diverted via Red Beach Rd after the gantry fell across Whangaparāoa Rd in Red Beach, close to the Hibiscus CoastHighway.
The gantry is part of the road's dynamic lane system, with changeable green and red arrows depending on time of day.
A photo posted to social media showed the large pole straddling the road.
Whangaparāoa Rd is now closed to eastbound traffic entering from Hibiscus Coast Highway. Diversions are in place via Red Beach Rd, the NZ Transport Agency said.
Fire crews are now responding to reports of trees down in Massey, West Auckland, and on the other side of town in Papakura.
A NZ Fire and Emergency spokesman said about 9.40am that firefighters were at Makora Rd, in Massey, where windy conditions have brought trees down across the road.
"We're there just trying to cut up the tree and clear the road," he said.
Traffic is expected to build in the area, given the off-ramp from the Northwestern Motorway runs through there.
Crews are also on their way to Settlement Rd, in Papakura, where a large tree has fallen across the road blocking it.
A reader emailed the Herald a photo taken from a Papakura community Facebook page showing the tree had also taken out a power pole.
Meanwhile, a power outage resulted in multiple traffic signals being out along Mt Albert Rd, parts of Three Kings and Royal Oak early this morning.
Due to a power outage multiple traffic signals along Mt Albert Road, in the Three Kings to Royal Oak area, are out. Please follow give-way rules, take extra care and be mindful of pedestrians crossing. ^TP pic.twitter.com/EV7KUrG2Ul
It was cleared shortly afterwards but has caused some delays just prior to the Massey Rd off-ramp. Traffic remains heavy around that area as well as from Hillsborough.
UPDATE 8:40AM This breakdown now towed CLEAR. Allow extra time for congestion from Drury to Papakura to slowly ease. ^TPhttps://t.co/QGN5hcs6ke
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) August 4, 2019
An earlier breakdown blocked a citybound lane near Newmarket.
A situation statement just before 9am said traffic on the Northern Motorway was still heavy from Oteha Valley Rd to Edmonde Rd.
All is well going the other way, however, with northbound traffic flowing.
On the Southern Motorway, traffic remains heavy from Great South Rd through to Papakura, as well as through Highbrook to Newmarket.
SH20 SOUTHWESTERN MWY, NORTHBOUND - 8:15AM A crash has just been cleared from the right lane northbound just prior to Massey Rd off-ramp. Expect some delays through this area. ^TP pic.twitter.com/lnAZXY6pAy
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) August 4, 2019
Those heading in to the city from West Auckland can expect heavy traffic from Hobsonville to Royal Rd and again from Rosebank Rd to the St Lukes off-ramp.
