Auckland Harbor Bridge chaos: dump truck causes motorway traffic jams

Auckland’s motorway network is stagnant after a truck capsized on the Harbor Bridge.

All northbound lanes on Auckland’s Harbor Bridge were temporarily closed at around 12.50pm for vehicle recovery after two trucks crashed during a downpour, trapping a driver.

The incidents occurred around 11.10 a.m. on Friday. One of the truckers has moderate injuries.

A weather station on the bridge recorded gusts of 120 kilometers per hour at the time of the accidents.

The New Zealand Transport Agency’s traffic camera shows a truck lying on its side and blocking the center lanes in both directions.

The agency said that to ensure safe recovery of vehicles, all northbound lanes would be closed starting at 12:00 p.m. for about half an hour.

“Please delay your trip north or consider using SH16 / 18 as an alternative.”

The truck was operated by Castle Parcels and general manager Michael Claydo said the driver was taken to the hospital for a check up and was “shaken” but not seriously injured.

“We understand that the truck is about to be removed from the site and company representatives are working closely with the driver and police on site to understand the sequence of events and conditions that caused the incident.”

At 1:30 PM, traffic was heavily congested on the North and Northwest Highways.

Southbound traffic in the North was backed up to Milford, while Northbound traffic in the Northwest had heavy patches to Henderson.

Traffic in Ponsonby and Herne Bay was also heavy, with cars lined up to enter the freeways.

NZTA Auckland system manager Andrea Williamson said the wind was blowing at just over 60km / h but sped up and blew at 127km / h for several minutes.

“A medium-size truck traveling northbound on lane three was hit by a strong gust of wind and crossed two lanes. He fell on the moving lane barrier and is now stuck in the barrier.

“At the same time, a southbound truck carrying a shipping container flew sideways and hit the bridge superstructure. The truck righted itself and moved on. “

Williamson said there is damage to the upper arch of the bridge with a steel stud sticking out.

“All four lanes in the central span of the bridge will remain closed until the damaged strut is assessed and repaired.”

The clip on the lanes in both directions is still open, but there is heavy congestion with reverse traffic.

St John Ambulance spokeswoman Beverley Tse said that at noon the driver was taken to the hospital in moderate condition.

New Zealand Fire & Emergencies shift manager Carren Larking said the driver was initially trapped and fire crews were working to remove them at 11.30am

Three fire fighting devices were dispatched to the scene.

A police spokesman said officers are also present and are working to help clear the scene.

“Motorists are advised to expect delays in that area and to drive under conditions this afternoon.”

MetService meteorologist April Clark said that shortly after 11 a.m., wind gusts of up to 120 km / h were blowing over the bridge.

A fast moving cold front moved over the Auckland area around 11 am and brought northwesterly winds with it.

Clark said it moved from west to east, from the Manukau port to the Hauraki Gulf, in about 15 minutes.

“The worst is over,” he said.

Larking said fire crews had been called on a few other weather-related incidents.

This included power lines dropping off Clevedon, south of Auckland and a trampoline flying off Waihi, Waikato.

The brief flurry of bad weather resulted in several small power outages in the Henderson Valley, Laingholm, Takanini and Wellsford areas, a Vector spokesperson said.

“We recognize the frustration of affected customers and would like to assure them that our teams are working as quickly as possible to safely restore power,” he said.

At 11:40 a.m., a motorist said traffic was stopped on State Highway 1 from Northcote Rd.

Signs along the freeway and Upper Harbor Highway warned drivers of gusts of wind on the bridge.