'Rubbernecking' slowing Auckland traffic

A scrub fire between Auckland's Southern motorway and the link from the Southwestern motorway has now been extinguished. Photo / NZTA

Commuter traffic is heavy across Auckland's motorways tonight thanks to multiple crashes, breakdowns and a scrub fire.

Rubberneckers are slowing traffic on the Auckland's Northern motorway after a car went off the road, police say.

Police were first called at 4.46pm after a vehicle spun out and left the road, ending up in bushes on the grass verge after Oteha Valley Rd.

While the crash has been dealt with and police have left the scene, the NZTA said traffic is still heavy back to Greville Rd thanks to rubbernecking.

A scrub fire on a grass verge next to the Southern Motorway has also slowed traffic. The fire has been extinguished.

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Southern Mwy: Scrub fire btwn motorway & southbound on-ramp from Sth-Western link. Please take extra care. Fire services are on route ^TP pic.twitter.com/fGj1y8bWwx

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) December 4, 2017

An earlier crash just after 4pm on the Northwestern motorway has also caused major delays.

Nobody was injured in the collision between a car and a ute with a trailer. The crash has now been cleared but traffic is still heavy in patches.

The NZTA is also warning to expect delays for drivers heading into the city on the Southern motorway after a bus broke down near Gillies Ave.

The breakdown was cleared by 6.10pm.