Update 7.36pm
The New Zealand Transport Authority (NZTA) has apologised for delays on State Highway 1 near Whangarei this afternoon after a passing lane closure at Mata for maintenance work resulted in a 5km queue of southbound traffic
The NZTA was resealing a one-kilometre section of the highway from Hewlett Road to Totara Road, as part of its annual summer maintenance works programme, when a queue of traffic began to form at about 1pm.
NZTA Northland and Auckland North journey manager Jacqui Hori-Hoult said the work was stopped and the lane re-opened at about 2pm, however it was taking time to clear the queue because of the large numbers of motorists heading south.
''The delays are being compounded by the loose chip that still remains on the highway. Motorists are travelling through the area well below the 50km/h speed restriction which means it is taking extra time to clear the queue of traffic which extends back to Whangarei.''