Traffic is backed up on Auckland's Northern Motorway this morning. Photo / NZTA
Traffic is returning to normal after a series of crashes and breakdowns caused major traffic problems across Auckland's motorways.
The morning rush hour traffic was crawling on stretches of the Northern, South-western and Southern motorways.
A New Zealand Transport Agency spokeswoman said flows were returning to normal.
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Earlier congestion was so bad the New Zealand Transport Agency is asking motorists to delay their travel if possible.
An earlier crash, now cleared, left Northern Motorway drivers with an hour-long commute from Oteha Valley into the city.
Motorists were advised to take State Highway 18 and even State Highway 16 to get to town faster.
Now a spokeswoman said those routes were packed with vehicles and slowgoing with a crash earlier blocking one of the alternative routes.
That accident had since been cleared but there were still major delays.
The headache was worsened with crashes on the South-western Motorway and a breakdown on the Southern Motorway on the busy Newmarket Viaduct.
The transport agency spokeswomansaid a series of minor accidents and breakdowns had added up to a large problem affecting peak hour travel.
If motorists were going to use the affected motorway networks then they could expect delays reaching their destination.
Investigations continue into the cause of the crash.