Traffic chaos: Spill leaves Auckland Harbour Bridge gridlocked

A spill over a lane has led to queues on Auckland's Southern Motorway stretching kilometres.

Motorists heading north over the Auckland Harbour Bridge are being told to take alternate motorways to avoid massive queues stretching 15km after a spill blocked a lane.

A spill on the left northbound lane at 12.20pm had caused huge traffic problems for those wanting to go to the North Shore and beyond.

New Zealand Transport Agency said delays were to be expected for northbound traffic as far back as Mt Wellington on SH1 and Newton Rd on SH16.

Those motorists wanting to go north were asked to detour via SH16 and SH18.

UPDATE 1:40PM
The left northbound lane currently remains blocked as clean up is being completed. An additional lane (lane 5) is available for northbound traffic, however motorists are still advised to detour via SH16 and SH18 or expect long delays. ^LB https://t.co/QsId8N3fru

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) July 9, 2021

UPDATE 12:45PM
The left northbound lane remains blocked to allow for clean up. Delays are to be expected for northbound traffic from Newton Rd on SH16 and Mt Wellington on SH1. Consider detouring via SH16 and SH18. ^LB https://t.co/QsId8N3fru

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) July 9, 2021

A clean-up operation was launched immediately.

A police spokesperson said debris had scattered over one of the lanes, leaving it blocked to traffic.

NZTA confirmed just after 2.10pm that the debris had been clearned and all lanes were now reopened.

At 1pm Google Maps showed traffic gridlocked from the harbour bridge to Spaghetti Junction and inching north from Ellerslie. Major inner-city roads leading on to the motorway were also at a standstill.