Traffic backed up on Napier to Taupo road

Police have been receiving multiple calls from concerned and delayed motorists all morning. File photo

An arterial route linking motorists to the East Coast of the North Island has been closed, reportedly causing traffic chaos.

State Highway 5 between Napier and Taupo has been closed while a crane is used to recover a truck that crashed there last night, a police spokeswoman said.

She said a large truck had crashed on the Napier-Taupo road, and although no one was injured, it was a large recovery operation.

"A truck and trailer has gone off the road, nobody was hurt, but they have closed the road because they are having to right the truck and are having to use a crane."

It was not known how long the recovery operation would take.

The spokeswoman said police had been receiving multiple calls from concerned and delayed motorists all morning.

According the NZ Transport Agency's traffic reports, there was no detour available and motorists were advised to use an alternative route altogether.