State Highway 1 north of Wellington was closed to southbound traffic for several hours on Friday following a serious crash involving a car and a van. Emergency services responded to the scene at 4.40pm, leading to significant delays between the Tawa off-ramp and the Glenside on-ramp. One person sustained serious injuries in the collision, and the road did not reopen until after 11pm.
How the closure impacted motorists
The extended closure left many commuters stranded on the motorway for hours. One driver reported being stuck near the end of Transmission Gully from 5.30pm until 10.30pm before reaching her home in Kāpiti. Motorists expressed frustration regarding the lack of timely communication, with some suggesting that earlier notifications would have allowed them to take the Hutt Valley turn-off as a detour.
Conditions on the motorway reportedly deteriorated as the delay lengthened. One driver told reporters that people were panicking, attempting to drive up the shoulder, and cutting each other off in the gridlocked traffic. Others chose to abandon their vehicles, with reports of people walking across the motorway and climbing over the median barrier to escape the congestion.
What happens next following the investigation
The Serious Crash Unit conducted an on-site investigation throughout the evening, which necessitated the extended closure of the southbound lanes. While the Transport Agency has since reopened the route, it has advised motorists to exercise extra caution when traveling through the area. As the investigation concludes, authorities may release further findings regarding the circumstances of the crash, though no specific timeline for those updates has been provided.
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the delay on State Highway 1?
A serious crash involving a car and a van occurred at approximately 4.40pm, requiring a lengthy investigation by the Serious Crash Unit.
Why were drivers walking along the motorway?
After being stranded for hours without official communication, some motorists opted to leave their vehicles and walk across the median barrier to reach other locations, such as nearby businesses.
Is the road open now?
Yes, the Transport Agency confirmed the road reopened to southbound traffic just after 11pm on Friday.
How would you prefer to receive traffic alerts during an emergency motorway closure?