Traffic: Three Auckland Harbour Bridge lanes blocked as holiday-makers start to flee city

The Auckland Harbour Bridge, which is the major connection between the North Shore and the Central Business District (CBD) of Auckland, New Zealand, experienced traffic disruptions on [current date] due to an unexpected high volume of holiday-makers leaving the city. According to reports from the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA), two of the three city-bound lanes and the far right north-bound lane were blocked due to heavy congestion caused by the mass exodus of tourists and locals heading out of Auckland for their holiday breaks.

The NZTA advised motorists to avoid traveling through the area if possible and to consider alternative routes such as the Northern Motorway or the Western Ring Route. They also urged drivers to plan their journeys in advance and allow extra time for their commute due to the anticipated heavy traffic.

The traffic disruption began in the late afternoon and continued into the evening, causing significant delays for motorists attempting to leave the city. The NZTA worked closely with emergency services and other transport providers to manage the situation and keep traffic flowing as smoothly as possible.

The cause of the sudden increase in traffic was attributed to the end of the school holidays and the beginning of the summer break for many New Zealanders. With good weather forecasted for the coming weeks, many families and tourists were taking the opportunity to leave the city and head to their holiday destinations.

Despite the traffic disruptions, the NZTA reminded drivers to remain patient and courteous on the roads and to follow all traffic rules and regulations for their safety and the safety of others. They also encouraged drivers to use public transport or carpooling options where possible to reduce the number of vehicles on the road and help alleviate some of the congestion.

The situation was expected to improve by the following morning as most of the holiday-makers had completed their journeys and normal traffic patterns resumed. However, motorists were advised to continue monitoring traffic updates and plan their journeys accordingly.

In summary, two city-bound lanes and one north-bound lane on the Auckland Harbour Bridge were blocked due to heavy traffic caused by holiday-makers leaving the city on [current date]. The New Zealand Transport Agency advised motorists to avoid the area and consider alternative routes while urging patience and courtesy on the roads. The disruption was expected to improve by the following morning.