Auckland motorway mayhem after crashes

New Zealand Transport Agency said the crash was blocking two lanes southbound just after the Ellerslie off-ramp. Photo / NZTA

Two crashes on Auckland's Southern Motorway are continuing to cause a headache for motorists travelling south this morning.

Police are warning motorists of long delays from the central city after a truck crash and five-car pile-up within a short distance of each other left lanes blocked and traffic at a standstill.

Earlier this morning commuters were caught in a nightmare backlog stretching kilometres.

All lanes have since been cleared but there are still long delays from the city hours several hours after both accidents.

New Zealand Transport Agency said the first crash, which happened around 5.15am, blocked two lanes southbound just after the Ellerslie off-ramp.

The rush hour traffic woes was compounded by a second five car nose-to-tail crash blocking the right lane southbound after Market Rd.

Both crashes were cleared off the motorway by 7.15am but motorists were being warned to expect a slow crawl to work. Police asked drivers to be patient.

A crash is blocking 2 lanes S-Bnd on the Sthn Mwy after Ellerslie off-ramp. Expect delays from Greenlane. ^LC

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) July 28, 2016

Motorists were asked to avoid the area.

Traffic was recommended to go around the crash site by getting off at the Market Rd or Greenlane off-ramps and using Gt South Rd.

Meanwhile in Wellington a cyclist was clipped by a car on State Highway 2 before the Ngauranga interchange and taken to Hutt Hospital with a moderate hip injury.

The crash happened at 6.50am, near the Hutt Rd off-ramp.