State Highway 1 at the Rakaia Bridge is open again following an earlier fatal crash.
Traffic built up after the lower Rakaia Bridge was closed after a crash between a motorcycle and a truck. Photo: Supplied
The bridge was closed after a crash between a motorcycle and a truck.
The motorcyclist died in the crash, taking the Labour Weekend death toll on the roads to eight which is the same total as last year.
While SH1 is open, there is heavy traffic congestion and motorists are advised to expect some delays, police say.
Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.
As well, a person has been critically injured after being hit by a truck in Waimakariri District.
The incident took place on State Highway 1 in Kaiapoi.
Police said traffic was heavy and diversions were in place.
Drivers were asked to avoid the area.
The road was closed for several hours and reopened around 8pm, police said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the police say it is 'incredibly frustrating' that some drivers aren't getting their messages.
The road policing director, Steve Greally, said he has spent years imploring people to do the right thing on the roads, and there are more than 1000 road policing officers around the country.
But he said it is clear some people are still driving impatiently and with their own interests at heart.
Superintendent Greally urges people travelling for the long weekend to remember there are other ways to have fun, rather than driving quickly or recklessly.
The official Labour Weekend road toll period ends at 6am tomorrow.
