Two lanes are closed on Auckland's Southern Motorway after a truck struck a bridge. Photo / Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency
Two lanes are closed on Auckland's Southern Motorway after a truck struck a bridge. Photo / Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency
Major delays across Auckland are starting to ease after all four motorways were badly congested by a truck striking a bridge on the Southern Motorway this afternoon.
Motorists still face long commutes on the Southern Motorway after the truck crash blocked several southbound lanes when it struck the Penrose Bridge.
A section of the Southern Motorway will close tonight so Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency can repair the bridge, but the lanes have since reopened for the remainder of rush hour.
Northbound lanes across the Harbour Bridge are slow-moving from Victoria Park in the city to Smales Farm.
On the Southwestern Motorway, meanwhile, there is start-stop traffic southbound between Ōnehunga and Manukau and between Maioro St and Hillsborough.
Westbound lanes on the Northwestern Motorway are also in the grips of heavy traffic between the Waterview interchange and the Lincoln Rd off-ramp.
Auckland commuters are being warned to expect major delays as four motorways are badly congested after a truck struck a bridge on the Southern Motorway this afternoon. Photo / Google
The westbound lane on Penrose Bridge, just after the Ellerslie-Panmure Highway, has also closed to traffic after the collision.
The bridge’s eastbound lane is being managed by stop/go signs.
A Waka Kotahi spokeswoman told the Herald southbound lanes from Ellerslie/Penrose to Mt Wellington would be closed tonight so the agency could repair the bridge.
The gridlock has extended from the Southern Motorway at Spaghetti Junction and onto the southbound lanes on the Northern Motorway to the Fanshawe St off-ramp.
City-bound lanes on the Northwestern Motorway also have major delays as the congestion creeps along on-ramps onto the Southern.
Traffic has also started building on the central city’s Hobson St as cars struggle to get through the intersection onto the Southern on-ramp.
Rubberneckers in the northbound lane of State Highway 1 are exacerbating the traffic, creating congestion back to Ōtāhuhu.
Buses have also been delayed, several stops closed and three bus routes diverted.
Waka Kotahi alerted the crash, on SH1, at 2.25pm.
PENROSE RD BRIDGE, PENROSE- 3:20PM Due to a bridge strike, Penrose Rd bridge is CLOSED westbound, between Gavin St/Portman Rd intersection and Prescott St, Penrose. Eastbound traffic is under stop/go traffic management. ^CO pic.twitter.com/ffV8MFoiiZ
— Auckland Transport Travel Alerts (@AT_TravelAlerts) May 15, 2023
The following stops closed temporarily due to the incident in Penrose: Stop 1861 - Prescott St. Use Stop 1469 - Penrose Rd/Bailey Rd. Stop 7625 - Green Park Rd. Use Stop 7623 - One Treee Hill College. Stop 7627 - Penrose Station/Gt South Rd. Use Stop 1469 - Penrose Rd/Bailey Rd. https://t.co/7pIq9HM00Vpic.twitter.com/gFqPf1r7D0
— Auckland Transport Travel Alerts (@AT_TravelAlerts) May 15, 2023
Motorists caught in the chaos told the Herald the Southern Motorway was “gridlocked”.
Two lanes on SH1 were closed earlier and contractors were on the scene inspecting the bridge for damage.
The transport agency warned motorists to expect delays and to pass the crash with care.
UDPATE 2:45PM The middle lane has closed again (left lane is still closed) while contractors inspect bridge damage. Pass right with care and expect delays. ^CO https://t.co/gKmTWhr2gP
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) May 15, 2023
Live traffic data showed a snaking line of bumper-to-bumper traffic southbound on the motorway from Mt Wellington to the city.
Police responded to the truck crash shortly after 2pm, and helped block lanes.
