Traffic chaos on Auckland motorways

Esmonde Rd on the North Shore at around 5.30pm. Photo / via NZTA

Two test matches at Eden Park and crashes on three main motorways have caused traffic chaos for commuters.

A crash blocking the right and middle southbound lanes on the Southern Motorway near the Penrose overbridge has now been cleared but NZTA is warning motorists heading south from Newmarket to expect delays.

There were three separate crashes on the Northwestern Motorway between 5pm and 6pm.

The first, near Rosebank Rd, blocked the middle lane heading west.

Another crash about 20 minutes later was partially blocking the right lane citybound and the third blocked the right lane on the westbound State Highway 16 Port link.

NZTA said people travelling in either direction on the Northwestern Motorway should expect delays.

On top of usual rush hour traffic, a crash on the southbound Onewa Rd earlier this evening created further gridlock. It has now been cleared.

Traffic was heavy in both directions.

Due to a crash (now clear of lanes) citybound on the Nthn Mwy after the Onewa off-ramp, expect delays heading south from Esmonde. ^LC pic.twitter.com/xp1feGJCKC

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) June 16, 2017

Two international test matches at Eden Park tonight will only add to traffic woes. Tonga vs Wales kicks off at 5.30pm and the All Blacks vs Samoa starts at 8pm.

On the Southern Motorway, city bound traffic was heavy between Papakura and Walter Strevens Drive then Penrose and Greenlane. Southbound traffic was heavy between the city and Penrose Rd, through Manukau and between Takanini and Papakura.

On the Southwestern Motorway, southbound traffic was heavy between Plunket Ave and Great South Rd with northbound traffic heavy at Massey Rd.