Burning Truck Load Causes Delays On Auckland Highway

Motorists travelling through parts of Auckland experienced significant disruption on Tuesday afternoon after a burning truck load triggered lane closures on a busy section of motorway.According to a report by Stuff, police were notified of the incident at around 2.17pm, when a rubbish truck split its burning load across the westbound lanes of State Highway 20 near the Lambie Drive off-ramp. The fire quickly spread debris across the left-hand lane, prompting an immediate response from emergency services. Fire and emergency crews were dispatched to the scene to control the blaze and prevent it from spreading further along the highway. As a precaution, two westbound lanes were initially closed, causing traffic to back up during the afternoon peak period.Just before 3.30pm, the NZ Transport Agency confirmed that one of the closed lanes had reopened, allowing traffic to slowly begin moving through the area again. However, one lane remained closed as crews continued work to extinguish the fire and remove debris, Stuff reported.Smoke from the burning rubbish also affected visibility on the Lambie Drive off-ramp, forcing its temporary closure. The off-ramp has since reopened, although officials warned motorists to remain cautious, as conditions could still be challenging while clean-up operations continued.Authorities advised drivers to avoid the area if possible and expect ongoing delays while the left lane remains closed. Motorists were urged to plan alternative routes, reduce speed near the incident site, and follow directions from traffic management staff.The incident serves as a reminder of how quickly unexpected hazards can disrupt Auckland’s transport network, particularly during busy weekday travel periods.

Read More: https://www.indianweekender.co.nz/news/burning-truck-load-sparks-traffic-delays-on-auckland-highway

Edit

Pub: 13 Jan 2026 06:41 UTC

Edit: 13 Jan 2026 06:42 UTC

Views: 16