A motorcyclist was killed in a crash involving a rubbish truck just before 6.30am, closing off part of the motorway.
The Northwestern Motorway has reopened after this morning's crash that killed a motorcyclist.
The crash, between a motorcycle and a rubbish truck, happened shortly after 6.30am and closed a section of the motorway between the Western Springs off- and on-ramps.
NZTA announced at 10.45am that all lanes citybound have re-opened in the Western Springs area and the citybound on-ramp from Great North Rd is also open.
It said to allow time for significant congestion to ease before starting a new journey.
Thousands of morning commuters were late to work, university or school as they battled the congestion.
One driver contacted the Herald to say he had been stuck in traffic for almost two hours.
Another said they were more than two hours late for work because of the delays.
"We left home in Queenstown Rd, Onehunga, at 6.45am and came through the tunnel. It's now 8.50am and we are crawling on the motorway about 100m away from the Western Springs off-ramp citybound.
"This is so frustrating. We were meant to start work at 7am at University of Auckland."
A driver who lives in Massey was sitting idle in his car at the Great North Rd turnoff, a journey that usually took 15 minutes in heavy traffic but today took about two hours.
He said signs on the way warned of a crash and that motorists should expect delays.
"Some people are driving up the left side, being sneaky, trying to beat the traffic.
"One lady's car was smoking and she had to pull over."
One commuter questioned how long the crash would take to clear.
"It's Monday morning, when will the congestion be cleared by? Need to get an estimate to plan the day accordingly with the boss at work," she said.
Trapped motorists have also reported needing the toilet and sleep as additional stresses.
"I left Avondale at 6.32am and I'm just now approaching St Lukes off-ramp. Yup, that's three hours! P.S. I'm busting to use the toilet!" one wrote.
Another reported having flown four hours from Cancun to Los Angeles, waited 12 hours for the next flight before flying 12-and-a-half hours to Auckland, only to be stuck in traffic since 7am.
Northwestern Motorway at Patiki Rd on-ramp. Photo / Ben Gibson
The closure affected traffic on SH16, SH18 and on SH20 via the Waterview Tunnel. Traffic was back to Maioro St on SH20 and was between Royal Rd and Lincoln Rd on SH16. Local roads were also congested.
The Great North Rd on-ramp eastbound was closed, while traffic coming through the Waterview Tunnel reported having to wait over half an hour just to get through the tunnel.
Motorists were advised to take alternative routes or delay travel wherever possible.
Automobile Association principal adviser of infrastructure Barney Irvine said at 7.40am, one hour after the crash, it was taking one hour and 45 minutes to get from Westgate into the CBD. Usually at this time it takes 25 or 26 minutes.
Also at 7.40am, it was taking just under one hour to get from the airport into the CBD via the Waterview Tunnel, a trip that usually took 25 or 26 minutes.
Auckland Transport operations centre manager Rua Pani said police worked as quickly as possible on the crash investigation.
UPDATE 10:45AM - NORTHWESTERN MWY NOW OPEN All lanes citybound now re-open in Western Springs area & citybound on-ramp from Gt North Rd also open. Allow time for significant congestion to ease (especially northbound on SH20 & ciybound on SH16) before starting a new journey. ^TP pic.twitter.com/00E1u5QWJp
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) July 1, 2018
