State Highway 1 reopened in Northland after fallen tree removed

State Highway 1 in Northland, between Kaiwaka and the Brynderwyn Hills has now reopened after a fallen tree was removed.

Lines company Northpower said work to remove the tree, which was hanging precariously over power lines, was completed earlier than expected, with traffic flowing again just after 2pm.

Power had to be disconnected to a handful of homes in the area but that had also been restored.

The highway was closed for more than an hour, causing long queues in both directions.

Motorists were advised to delay their journeys or, if that was not possible, to detour via Baldrock Road and Kaiwaka-Mangawhai Road.

Google Maps showed northbound traffic backed up to a point about 2km south of Kaiwaka at 1pm. Cars trying to go south were backed up to the foot of the Brynderwyn Hills.

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