Swan holds up Auckland commuter traffic

Monday, 19 February 2018

Police have managed to chase off a swan blocking part of the Northern Motorway.

Commuters on Auckland's North Shore faced delays thanks to a rogue swan who decided to join them on their drive on Monday morning.

NZ Transport Agency said police had successfully chased the big bird away from the southbound lanes of the northern motorway just after Greville Rd at 7.30am.

Police managed to persuade the swan to take a different route by inching their car closer to the bird as a large block of commuters waited patiently behind them on the motorway.

The incident is the second of its type recently on the northern motorway.

In August 2015 NZTA asked motorists to keep a watchful eye out for a large black swan captured on traffic cameras lurking on the southbound lane just before Upper Harbour Highway.

It is unknown if the same swan was involved in the latest incident.

SH1 NTHN MWY, SOUTHBOUND - OBSTRUCTION - 7:30AM

Meanwhile, NZ Police have successfully cleared a swan from obstructing southbound lanes on the Northern Mwy after Greville Rd. Everyone unharmed. Allow extra time for delays from Oteha Valley Rd. ^TP pic.twitter.com/e4vh6HNzxY

— NZTA Akld & Nthlnd (@NZTAAkl) February 18, 2018