Both the on and off-ramps at Northcote Road on Auckland's Northern Motorway were blocked for around an hour this afternoon, while separate crashes were cleared. Photo: Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency
Two separate, multi-vehicle crashes blocked both the southbound and northbound lanes on Auckland's Northern Motorway, near the Northcote Rd on and off-ramps for an hour on Friday afternoon.
Although the crashes were cleared by 1.35pm, Waka Kotahi is warning drivers to be prepared for delays in both directions as congestion eases.
By 1.50pm, congestion heading northbound was backed up to the harbour bridge.
Police were informed of a crash involving a bus, car and motorbike on the northbound lane about 12.40pm.
One person was taken to hospital with moderate injuries.
There was another minor collision in the southbound lane, just across from the first incident.
There were no reports of injuries in that crash.
Auckland commuters are being warned to brace for the afternoon build-up of Labour Weekend traffic, which is often marked by long traffic queues.
Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency is predicting heavy traffic both north and south of Auckland, and some parts of Northland, at peak travel times.
For those heading south from central Auckland, State Highway 1 at Manukau to Bombay is expected to be busy southbound on Friday between 2pm and 7.30pm, and again between 8am and 3.30pm on Saturday.
The heaviest traffic is expected from 5pm to 7pm on Friday and 11am to 1.30pm on Saturday.
As of 2pm on Friday, the Southern Motorway between Newmarket and Papakura was already gathering congestion as Aucklanders began travelling for the long weekend.
Earlier on Friday, a truck breakdown caused about 5km of traffic jam on Auckland's SH18.
Drivers travelling from Greenhithe to Rosedale on the North Shore found themselves stuck in lengthy lines of traffic on the Upper Harbour Motorway.
The backlog started to build after a truck broke down on the SH18 eastbound off-ramp to Albany at 8.15 on Monday morning. It had eased by 10am.
* This story originally appeared on Stuff.