Long queues after crash blocks Auckland motorway near harbour bridge

A crash north of the Auckland Harbour Bridge has blocked many lanes and left long queues. Photo / NZTA

Queues stretch for kilometres after a smash near the Auckland harbour bridge blocked most of the motorway's lanes.

Those using buses are being warned they will be waiting a while as long lines of traffic merge down to one lane to crawl past the crash.

Now traffic heading in the opposite direction is getting just as bad with rubberneckers slowing down to look at the mayhem.

The NZ Transport Agency said the accident happened in northbound lanes of the Northern Motorway near the Onewa Rd offramp around 10.15am.

#AklTraffic Heavy City-Bnd on Nth Mway from Tristram Ave following #crash at Onewa Rd Nth-Bnd #Rubbernecking ^SK

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) May 21, 2017

Smashed vehicles were blocking three of four lanes.

Drivers are being warned to avoid the area with queues quickly forming back through Victoria Park Tunnel and spilling into Spaghetti Junction and main streets on the city side of the bridge.

#Crash on the Nth Mway Nth-Bnd after Onewa Rd Off Ramp, blocking multiple lanes #ExpectDelays More to come- ^SK

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) May 21, 2017

Auckland Transport warned commuters that buses heading to the North Shore would be affected by the crash.

Expect delays to North shore bus services due to crash on the Nth Mway. ^HChttps://twitter.com/NZTAAkl/status/866417243424309249 pic.twitter.com/qmMvgudUkl

— Auckland Transport (@AklTransport) May 21, 2017

NZTA said police were directing traffic past the scene in the left lane.