Wellington traffic at standstill after truck crash

Wellington drivers are facing further disruption today as a crane is brought in to remove a truck and trailer that crashed on State Highway 1.

Traffic has still been at a standstill this morning after the truck and trailer crashed just north of the Newlands overbridge at Ngauranga Gorge about 4.50am today.

The truck was travelling southbound when it hit the median barrier and "jack-knifed", blocking lane two south of the Newlands off-ramp, police said.

The truck and trailer unit that jack-knifed and crashed into the motorway medium barrier on State Highway One in the Ngauranga Gorge, Wellington. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Both the lane and the southbound Johnsonville on-ramp had been closed to commuters since the accident.

A New Zealand Transport Agency spokesman said traffic in the area was still "heavy".

"Soon they will be bringing a crane in to remove the truck, so there is going to be quite a lot of disruption in and around both southbound and northbound lanes.

"We are trying to work hard to get it open by evening peak, but there is a risk that we might have a reduced lane for northbound during the evening peak.

"There is going to be delays in that area right throughout the day."

Just to give everyone an idea of the incident #SH1 Ngauranga Gorge here's a photo taken by one of our NZTA staff ^SH pic.twitter.com/M7QYwDUkbk

— Waka Kotahi Wellington (@WakaKotahiWgtn) March 9, 2015

He said the Transport Agency was encouraging motorists to use public transport, or take an alternative route.

Motorists travelling southbound from the Kapiti Coast were advised to use SH58 and SH2, he said.

Those travelling from the Churton Park and Johnsonville area could take diversions through Ngaio, he said.

Diversions were also in place through Johnsonville and down Moorefield Rd.

"They are heavy as well so [drivers] certainly will need to allow extra time if they are travelling at any time today."

The driver of the truck was treated at the scene by staff, and the police commercial vehicle investigation unit was investigating the cause of the crash.