Commuters told: Leave cars at home
Falling debris, surface flooding and breakdowns create traffic snarl
Commuters heading into central Auckland this morning have been warned to leave their cars at home or face significant delays. The advice was issued last night by Auckland Transport after authorities closed a major thoroughfare — Victoria St West between Nelson and Hobson Streets — overnight. The road is expected to stay closed during peak travel times this morning.
Commuters were urged to use public transport, but AT cautioned there could be delays expected throughout the CBD.
Due to the closure, detours will be put in place for 75 bus services.
The closure follows the dramatic incident when a cladding panel was blown off the Victopia apartment
building at 10.45am yesterday.
Police took the precaution of closing an area around the building, which created congestion in the inner city.
Constant rain in the City of Sails throughout the day compounded the traffic nightmare, as surface flooding forced motorway lanes to be closed.
As of 5.34pm, MetService reported 58mm of rain had fallen in Auckland yesterday, more than had fallen in the previous 26 days combined at 29mm, according to Niwa.
Last evening, two breakdowns on the Northern Motorway, one in the Victoria Park Tunnel and one on the Harbour Bridge, slowed the journey home for thousands of motorists.
It didn’t help that traffic lights were out of action at the intersection of Esmonde Rd and Fred Thomas Drive in Takapuna. Drivers were urged to take care through the area.
Those exiting the Sky City carpark during peak travel times were being warned of a 45-minute delay just to get out onto the street.
One frustrated motorist said she had spent 40 minutes sitting in her car and described the situation as “pandemonium”.
A vehicle breakdown in the
Waterview Tunnel also caused delays, with drivers asked to merge right if possible.
Surface flooding affected many roads across the upper North Island yesterday.
Slips and a rapid rise of water levels in streams and rivers were reported in Northland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty.
Elsewhere, a severe weather warning was in place for State Highway
1 around the Tongariro National Park and State Highway 5 from Napier to Taupo. NZTA said heavy rain and snow overnight might impact driving conditions and urged motorists to drive to the conditions.