The detour around a crash on State Highway 1 at Topuni takes motorists on a narrow, unsealed road. Video / Supplied
Motorists north of Auckland are having to navigate narrow rural roads for 33km following a crash that is blocking State Highway 1 north of Wellsford, with one driver saying it is “chaos”.
A truck rolled north at Topuni around 10.15am, blocking lanes in both directions near the intersections with Schiska and Otioro Rds.
The detour, which NZTA said is for light vehicles only, requires both northbound and southbound commuters to travel through Mangawhai, adding an extra 33km to their journeys.
A section of State Highway 1 north of Auckland will remain closed "for some time" after a truck rolled this morning. Photo / NZTA
One motorist travelling north who encountered the detour said it was “f***ing chaos” on the narrow, unsealed road.
”The road is one car wide,” they said.
“There’s hundreds of people trying to traverse Northland’s new state highway.
SH1 TOPUNI FOREST - UPDATE - 2:20PM This section of #SH1 remains closed, vehicle recovery is underway, and we are hopeful the road can be reopened early this evening. Delay your journey or follow detour and expect delays. ^ND https://t.co/2PQIbHQvK6
— NZ Transport Agency - Auckland & Northland (@nztaaklnth) February 3, 2025
”I’d advise anyone coming through not to use it if at all possible.”
NZTA said traffic on the detour route was “heavy but flowing”.
“People are asked to stick to the recommended detour as other local roads are not suitable for state highway detour traffic.
“There is no detour route for heavy vehicles and, due to a significant build-up of traffic at the closure point, heavy vehicles are asked to delay their journeys if possible.”
Motorists are having to navigate narrow rural roads along a 33km detour after a truck rolled and blocked SH1 north of Auckland.
Video shared with the Herald shows commuters at a standstill, while trucks and vehicles towing trailers inch down a narrow gravel road along the detour.
A police spokesperson said there were currently no reports of any injuries from the scene.
Motorists were advised that diversions would be in place for both northbound and southbound traffic.
“Expect delays on your travels while the scene is cleared,” said the spokesperson.
Meanwhile, a second crash on SH1 has been reported north of Whangārei in the Northland settlement of Hūkerenui.
Emergency services were advised about 2.10pm that a car towing a horse float and a truck had collided.
A police spokesperson said there were no serious injuries.
“The road is blocked, and traffic management is in place,” police said.
SH1 has closed between Whakapara and Towai in Northland after a car towing a horse float and a truck collided in Hūkerenui. Photo / Julia Gabel
A witness told the Herald it looked like a logging truck had collided with a vehicle towing a trailer.
They said there were no emergency services at the scene when they passed about 2.20pm and a member of the public was co-ordinating traffic.
NZTA said SH1 was closed between Whakapara and Towai and urged motorists to consider delaying their journey or allow extra time for the detour.
SH1 HUKERENUI - ROAD CLOSED - 2:55PM Due to a serious crash #SH1 is closed in the Hukerenui area, between Kopeti Rd & Domain Rd. Please follow directions of response crews in the area. Delays in the area are likely. ^ND pic.twitter.com/OOA8iQ4tAJ
— NZ Transport Agency - Auckland & Northland (@nztaaklnth) February 3, 2025
“Due to a serious crash SH1 is closed in the Hukerenui area, between Kopeti Rd and Domain Rd,” it tweeted.
