Auckland traffic gridlocked after multiple motorway incidents

One commuter said he left a business on Victoria St West in the CBD just before 4.45pm, and by 5.20pm he had still not reached the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

A breakdown on the Wellesley St motorway on-ramp has added to a string of traffic woes in Auckland on Monday evening.

The breakdown, which was blocking one lane on to SH1 north, had been cleared by about 6.40pm, according to a tweet from NZTA.

UPDATE 6:40PM
This breakdown now moved clear of lanes. ^TPhttps://t.co/SjOJT5ao9a

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) October 5, 2020

Much of Auckland's motorway network was gridlocked from about 4pm on Monday after a crash on the Southwestern Motorway and a breakdown on the Southern Motorway.

Both incidents were cleared by 5pm, but traffic remained heavy into Monday evening.

Traffic on Auckland's motorways was gridlocked on Monday afternoon after two separate incidents. Image / Google Maps

A commuter heading to the North Shore by bus told the NZ Herald at 5.20pm that traffic was "absolutely horrendous".

Buses were lined up in the bus lane near the corner of Market Place and Nelson St.

UPDATE 4:20PM
This crash now cleared, however has left #AklTraffic very heavy on #SH20 northbound from Puhinui Rd. Allow extra time as this slowly eases. ^TPhttps://t.co/FHBoK9fd78

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) October 5, 2020

Another motorist said he left a business on Victoria St West in the CBD just before 4.45pm, and by 5.20pm he had still not reached the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

An NZTA spokesperson said nothing in particular was causing the backed-up traffic around the harbour bridge at about 5.30pm, other than the fact there were still only three lanes open in each direction.