Auckland Harbor Bridge: Motorists warned of delays to the south

Motorists heading to work over the Auckland Harbor Bridge this morning are going to be late this morning, but nothing of the same magnitude that paralyzed the highway during rush hour yesterday.

With moderate winds across the 15 km / h bridge, motorists have returned to using the bridge despite the fact that only three lanes were opened after it was damaged in a truck accident nearly a fortnight ago.

Yesterday, the New Zealand Transport Agency, Waka Kotahi, was forced to close the bridge for an hour when wind gusts of almost 100 km / h passed through the Waitemata port crossing, fearing the safety of motorists in the structure engaged.

It caused a massive headache for everyone heading to work on the highway, with the main SH1 junction paralyzed and a series of crashes causing a similar nightmare ride for those taking the congested Western Ring alternate route.

Today, the highway agency is telling commuters heading to work to consider using the Western Ring Road to travel south, rather than the bridge.

At 6.15 a. M., Long lines were forming back to Northcote Rd from the bridge, and travel times were more than double the normal time it took to get in.

The agency reported that it was taking 40 minutes to get from Silverdale to the city over the bridge.

It took 50 minutes to use the Western Ring Road.

A breakdown on the westbound Upper Harbor Highway was causing problems just before 7 a.m., and delays were expected on the stretch of highway until it cleared.

Meanwhile, all eight lanes are expected to be back in use next week with plans to install the giant replacement strut scheduled for Saturday night.

Yesterday, the transportation agency announced that all southbound lanes of the bridge would be closed starting at 9 pm to install the permanent 22.7m strut.