The Puhoi to Warkworth motorway is now open to traffic.
Members of the public are taking to social media to share their excitement at the news of the opening, which has been highly anticipated by locals in particular.
On a local Warkworth community Facebook page, people started posting that the road had opened from about 5am.
Johnny Shore said he left Warkworth at 5am and was in the Auckland CBD by 5.35am.