Fatal crash in Auckland closes major route to airport

The driver of an articulated truck was killed when the vehicle crashed through a barrier near the SH20/SH1 intersection on the Southbound link from SH1 to SH20, Manukau. Photo / SNPA

A truck driver has died after the vehicle rolled on an Auckland motorway overnight.

The crash occurred in the west-bound flyover lane of the Southwestern Motorway between the intersection with State Highway 1 and the Lambie Drive interchange, around 3am.

Police have closed the road - a major route to Auckland International Airport - as they investigate the crash, which is expected to cause a heavy backlog of traffic this morning.

The westbound flyover link from the Southern Motorway (SH1) to the Southwestern Motorway (SH20) at Manukau will be closed for several hours.

Detours are in place along Redoubt Road at Manukau but the Transport Agency says congestion will be heavy and drivers should allow more time for their journey or use other routes.

The heavy truck rolled on the flyover and smashed through a long section of guardrail.

The recovery operation and repairs to the guardrail will take several hours before the link between the two motorways is safe to reopen, the Transport Agency said.

The police serious crash unit and commercial vehicle investigation unit are investigating the cause of the crash.