Motorists travelling through parts of Auckland faced heavy congestion on Tuesday afternoon after a rubbish fire broke out on a busy stretch of highway, forcing lane closures and disrupting traffic.
According to a report by Stuff, Police said the incident was reported at 2.17 pm on Tuesday, after a rubbish truck spilt its burning load onto the westbound lanes of State Highway 20 near the Lambie Drive off-ramp. The burning debris quickly spread across the left-hand lane, triggering an emergency response from fire crews and traffic authorities.
Two lanes were initially shut as firefighters worked to control the blaze and prevent it from spreading further. Just before 3.30 pm, the NZ Transport Agency said one lane had since reopened, and just one remained closed, allowing some traffic to begin moving through the area again, Stuff has reported.
Smoke from the fire also reduced visibility on the Lambie Drive offramp, leading to its temporary closure. It has since reopened, though officials warned conditions could remain difficult while crews continued their work, as reported by Stuff.
The left lane was expected to remain closed for some time while fire crews worked to extinguish the blaze and clear debris. Motorists were advised to avoid the area and expect delays.