Truck Crash Closes Auckland's Southern Motorway

All lanes have been reopened on Auckland's southern motorway after a rubbish truck hit an overbridge this morning.

The New Zealand Transport Agency said State Highway 1 at Ellerslie was now open to traffic but motorists should expect long delays with queues stretching back to the city.

Rubberneckers were also causing delays for northbound traffic.

The agency recommended traffic heading south from the North Shore to consider using a longer route around State Highways 18, 16 and 20.

The truck's load, believed to be rubbish, was now strewn across the southbound lanes. Photo / Supplied via Mitch Cuevas

The New Zealand Transport Agency earlier tweeted the motorway was closed at Ellerslie because of a truck crash.

Police Northern Communications Shift Inspector Chris Tate said the truck had struck a bridge that spanned the motorway.

The truck struck an overbridge. Photo / Supplied via Paul Monzari

"It's hit the bridge and its load is all over the road," Mr Tate said.

He said the clean-up operation would take some time.

Mr Tate said traffic was not only blocked on the motorway but beginning to clog streets connected to on-ramps.

Its driver was not injured, he said.

Electrician Greg Wilcox said the moment the rubbish truck hit the bridge sounded like an enormous explosion.

Mr Wilcox said he was just 50m away when the accident happened.

"I was just outside by my van when I heard this almighty bang like a bomb going off - it was huge - enough so people starting coming out on to the street.

"As it happened I turned toward the bridge and I saw the truck as it went by.

"It had obviously lost all the big dump tray that sits on the back."

The truck flipped after hitting the bridge. Photo / Peter Walker

The driver was sitting in his cab 200m further up the road.

Mr Wilcox said it was likely there were a number of near misses of cars swerving to avoid the wrecked truck and its spilled load.

- NZ Herald