Traffic builds as Aucklanders rush away for the Anzac long weekend. Photo / Sylvie Whinray
Traffic builds as Aucklanders rush away for the Anzac long weekend. Photo / Sylvie Whinray
Traffic chaos on Auckland’s motorways is starting to wane after a four-car crash and another multi-car collision exacerbated already dire congestion ahead of the Anzac long weekend.
Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency said crashes on the Southwestern and Southern Motorways had since been moved clear of lanes. Meanwhile, live traffic data showed traffic had eased on the Southern Motorway as of 7.40pm.
Delays remained on southbound lanes from Ellerslie to Otahuhu and at another section between Manukau and Rosehill.
The crashes came on top of wet weather which caused hour-long delays to buses and commuters as holidaymakers took to the road.
Waka Kotahi alerted the four-car crash in a southbound lane just past the Ramarama off-ramp on State Highway 1 at 6.40pm. The transport agency said motorists should expect delays and pass with care.
Police said there were no reports of injuries from the crash, which, contrary to Waka Kotahi, they said appeared to be blocking a northbound lane.
Another multi-car crash was reported blocking the southbound lane on the Southwestern Motorway just before the Walmsley Rd off-ramp at 6.45pm.
SH1 SOUTHERN MWY - 6:40PM A multi-car crash on #SH1 is blocking the right southbound lane past Ramarama off-ramp. Pass left with care and expect delays. ^CO pic.twitter.com/nC1lPzzlsa
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) April 21, 2023
SH20 SOUTHWESTERN MWY - 6:45PM A multi-vehicle crash on #SH20 is blocking the middle southbound lane just before Walmsley Rd off-ramp. Pass the scene with care and expect delays. ^CO pic.twitter.com/NPBpItaJk7
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) April 21, 2023
While Anzac Day next Tuesday won’t see a proper long weekend holiday, it’s likely work-weary Aucklanders will make the most of the chance to get away, with traffic set to be heavy this afternoon.
Auckland Transport said delays are stretching almost as long as an hour, with the worst-hit areas in central and southern Auckland.
As of 5pm today, almost the whole of Auckland’s Southern Motorway, SH1, was at a standstill as droves of motorists headed south from the city early. Parts of the highway were clogged by 2pm.
Due to the wet weather and people heading North and South, out of the city, there is heavy traffic congestion across Auckland, impacting many bus routes. The most impacted are central and southern areas.
— Auckland Transport Travel Alerts (@AT_TravelAlerts) April 21, 2023
Waka Kotahi has predicted holiday traffic volumes on highways around the country based on travel patterns in past years and said motorists could use the data to plan their journeys.
It predicted traffic would become heavy from as early as noon on Friday on Auckland’s motorways.
Spaghetti Junction was completely clogged as of 2.13pm, with southbound traffic crawling from there to Mt Wellington.
Almost all of Auckland's motorway network was clogged Friday evening, as holidaymakers rushed from the city. Photo / Google
Traffic along the Southwestern Motorway, SH20, was backed-up from the Southern Motorway at Manukau to Māngere Bridge. Traffic on the Southern was heavy again from Manukau to Rosehill.
Police, meanwhile, have urged drivers to slow down, drive to the conditions, wear their seatbelts and stay off their phones in an effort to avoid a repeat of last year’s Anzac holiday road toll.
“Police do not want a repeat of last year, where 12 people died on the roads over Anzac weekend,” national road policing centre director Superintendent Steve Greally said.
“This week also got off to a devastating start with seven people losing their lives in serious crashes,” he said.
“We don’t want anyone else to experience the loss of a loved one from a bad decision on the road.”
Greally told people not to drink and drive, to take regular breaks while driving, to make sure they were well-rested before getting behind the wheel, and to be courteous and keep safe following distances with more traffic on the road.
“Police would like to see an Anzac weekend without any serious crashes on our roads,” Greally said.
“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility. If you see any unsafe driving behaviour on the roads, please report it to police immediately.”
See some of the busiest stretches of highways below and follow the Herald’s coverage of any traffic incidents here.
Heading south?
Waka Kotahi predicted traffic heading out of the city on the Southern Motorway, SH1, should ease about 6pm today. This takes into account the stretch of road between Manukau and Bombay.
For those turning on to SH2 towards the Coromandel and Bay of Plenty, traffic was set to be heaviest from 3.30pm to 5pm today. This prediction is for the section of SH2 from Pokeno to Maramarua.
