Auckland's motorways have been plagued by a series of accidents this morning, causing numerous delays.
A morning of traffic woes in Auckland began with a car flipping on the harbour bridge. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
Problems began at 5.30am when a car flipped on the harbour bridge, travelling north on the city side, injuring two people and blocking two lanes.
The crash was cleared by 6.15am but congestion had built through St Marys Bay, prompting the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) to call for motorists to allow for extra travel time.
Ten minutes later, a crash blocked the northwestern motorway (State Highway 16) in the right citybound lane after the Bond Street overbridge.
The scene was cleared in minutes, but again NZTA was warning drivers to take extra time, with emergency services still on the scene.
SH16 NORTHWESTERN MWY - CRASH - 6:25AM
— NZTA Akld & Nthlnd (@NZTAAkl) February 4, 2019
A crash is blocking the right lane citybound after Bond St overbridge. Merge left to pass with care & expect some delays this morning. ^TP pic.twitter.com/x90H3jxfPW
Just after 7am, a breakdown blocked the southwestern motorway's right southbound lane just before Mangere Bridge.
Minutes later another breakdown blocked SH1 on the southern motorway's citybound side just before the Greenlane off-ramp.
Yet another breakdown, this time a truck just after 7.30am, blocked SH1 southbound between East Tamaki Road and Te Irirangi Drive.
SH1 SOUTHERN MWY - BREAKDOWN - 7:35AM
— NZTA Akld & Nthlnd (@NZTAAkl) February 4, 2019
A truck breakdown is blocking the left lane southbound between East Tamaki Rd and Te Irirangi Dr. Merge right & pass with care. ^TP pic.twitter.com/YmVOTblFg5
By then, the Mangere Bridge breakdown was just about cleared, but NZTA was warning of delays from Dominion Road to the bridge.
Back on the northwestern motorway, a lane had to be closed to recover the vehicle from the earlier crash, and the scene was finally cleared just before 8am.
Then, another breakdown occurred on the northern motorway's Tristram Avenue on-ramp at 8am.
Drivers were advised to take extra care and expect delays from Wairau Road.
The truck breakdown on SH1 near East Tamaki Road was towed clear just before 9am, however, NZTA warned that traffic was heavy from Highbrook to Te Irirangi.
SH1 NORTHERN MWY - BREAKDOWN - 8:00AM
— NZTA Akld & Nthlnd (@NZTAAkl) February 4, 2019
A breakdown is blocking the right lane citybound on the Tristram Ave on-ramp. Pass with extra care & expect delays from Wairau Rd. ^TP pic.twitter.com/F4bTZRNTAP
