Traffic live: 'Expect delays' - warnings as motorists rush to get away for holiday weekend

Traffic is building as holidaymakers make their escape from New Zealand cities for the long weekend.

Emergency services have already warned motorists to take care on the roads, which shouldn't be too difficult for those making the slow crawl on choked-up highways.

5.15pm:

An ambulance on its way to a crash on State Highway just south of Whangārei has been sideswiped by another vehicle which has failed to stop.

A three-car pile up initially blocked the highway, near Puwera, just before 4pm.
Police and emergency services were quick on the scene and got traffic flowing again.

However, an ambulance called to the crash was sideswiped by a vehicle, which was last seen heading down Oaks Rd, off SH1.

UPDATE 5:05PM
This crash now clear of lanes, but delays should still be expected through the area until fully cleared. Allow extra time. ^TPhttps://t.co/COww9NORCq

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) October 25, 2019

4.55pm:

- Traffic remains busy in Auckland. There's heavy congestion on the Southern Motorway southbound between Newmarket and Takanini, and northbound between Princes St and Khyber Pass Rd and again between the city and Victoria Tunnel.

- The Southwestern Motorway is heavy in both directions between Onehunga and Manukau.

- West-bound traffic is busy on the Northwestern Motorway between Waterview and Lincoln Rd.

- There are also patches of heavy traffic in the northbound lanes on the Northern Motorway, including between Onewa and Northcote roads, Tristram Ave and Constellation Dr, and again around Redvale.

4.20pm:

- A crash is blocking lanes between Oakleigh and Otaika, south of Whangarei, causing delays in both directions, the NZ Transport Agency tweeted.

Emergency services are on the way and it's understood up to three vehicles are involved.

SH1 OAKLEIGH/OTAIKA - CRASH - 4:05PM
A crash is blocking lanes between Oakleigh and Otaika, south of Whangarei, causing delays in both directions. Expect delays in the area: https://t.co/ircJEHDPMl ^TP pic.twitter.com/ZGJGhrdIIv

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) October 25, 2019

- In Wellington, northbound traffic is still congested between Peka Peka and Ōtaki, with queues back to Waikanae.

UPDATE 4:10PM
Traffic remains CONGESTED heading north between Peka Peka and Ōtaki. Queues are back to Waikanae. Please continue to expect delays. Based on previous years’ travel trends, heavy traffic is not expected to ease until after 6pm. ^ELhttps://t.co/ZpBBKx4p9y

— Waka Kotahi Wellington (@WakaKotahiWgtn) October 25, 2019

4pm:

- SH1 Northern Motorway northbound: Slow before the Johnstones Hill tunnels and Wellsford, and heavy at Warkworth

- SH1 Southern Motorway southbound: Slow to Takanini

However, good news for motorists held up by a breakdown on SH1 northbound at Greenlane, where a broken-down bus caused delays this afternoon.

This has now been cleared.

UPDATE 3:55PM
This breakdown now cleared. Expect delays citybound from Princes St to start to ease. ^TPhttps://t.co/tvsrsaXTF2

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) October 25, 2019

Motorists were earlier warned to expect delays leaving Auckland.

Traffic maps show congestion at Puhinui through to Takanini and chokepoints at motorway on-ramps at Manukau.

At 3pm, NZTA tweeted that a bus breakdown was blocking the left lane on the Southern Motorway citybound beside the Greenlane on-ramp.

"Pass with care and expect delays through the area."

SH1 SOUTHERN MWY, NORTHBOUND - 3:00PM
A bus breakdown is blocking the left lane citybound beside the Greenlane on-ramp. Pass with care and expect delays through the area. ^TP pic.twitter.com/usRZm83HjW

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) October 25, 2019

UPDATE 11:10AM
This breakdown now cleared. ^TPhttps://t.co/1MyE8jyIei

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) October 24, 2019

Auckland Transport is predicting delays northbound and southbound on SH1 this afternoon.

SH1 KAPITI COAST, NORTHBOUND – HOLIDAY CONGESTION - 11:30AM
Due to increased northbound holiday traffic, there is CONGESTION on SH1 between Te Horo & #Ōtaki. Queues are building towards Peka Peka. Please expect DELAYS, as heavy traffic is not expected to ease until after 6pm. ^CR pic.twitter.com/LmH51KZsd8

— Waka Kotahi Wellington (@WakaKotahiWgtn) October 24, 2019

Wellingtonians fleeing the capital for the long weekend are facing congestion between Peka Peka and Otaki.

Some roads in the Auckland CBD have reopened as the convention centre fire is controlled and moved into the "recovery" phase, but motorists are still advised to expect delays or avoid the area.

ALLOW EXTRA TIME FOR HOLIDAY TRAFFIC DELAYS
As expected traffic delays are now occurring on #SH1 both northbound and southbound this afternoon as holidaymakers depart the city for Labour weekend. Check our Holiday Journeys tool: https://t.co/tMhQ28qKDP and plan ahead. ^TP pic.twitter.com/TcZGTKoFYl

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) October 25, 2019

The far left lane on Nelson St - heading from the Northwestern Motorway - is open, and Federal St is now fully open.

UPDATE 3:30PM
Due to the long weekend, traffic remains heavily CONGESTED heading north between Peka Peka and Ōtaki. Queues are almost back to Waikanae. Please expect #delays. ^ELhttps://t.co/qXPoUHKNSO

— Waka Kotahi Wellington (@WakaKotahiWgtn) October 25, 2019

☀ LABOUR WEEKEND OUTLOOK 🌦
Temperatures are on the rise over the weekend and most places will see extended periods of fine weather but a rain band is moving up the country on Sunday and Monday.
Make https://t.co/Yjbq0jxdqz part of you weekend planning and stay safe! ^Lewis pic.twitter.com/nojVigDjGJ

— MetService (@MetService) October 24, 2019

Some bus routes are still taking a detour around the cordoned-off site.

Christchurch Police and traffic control are responding to a crash involving a truck and two cars in Rolleston.

Police were advised of the crash at the intersection Dunns Crossing Road and Walkers Road, through which SH 1 runs, at around 6pm this evening.

A police spokeswoman said there was nothing to suggest diversions are required there at the moment.

Police are reminding motorists to wear seatbelts, drive sober and to the conditions, and that the tolerance level for speeding is 4km/h from 4pm Friday to 6am Tuesday.

Last year, there were five motor fatalities over Labour weekend - two drivers, two passengers and one motorcyclist, down from six in 2017.

There were 130 reported injury crashes during the long weekend last year, more than half occurred on urban roads.

LABOUR WEEKEND HOLIDAY TRAFFIC
Expect delays both northbound and southbound on SH1 this afternoon as holidaymakers depart the city for Labour weekend. Check our Holiday Journeys tool: https://t.co/8W8ofl8Lfs and plan ahead. ^TP pic.twitter.com/tXaOrUsqZe

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) October 24, 2019