Traffic chaos predicted in Auckland

Emergency services will get regular updates on traffic congestion this weekend as the busiest motorway in the country closes for up to 36 hours.

The southbound lanes of the Southern Motorway at the Newmarket Viaduct will close at 5pm on Saturday to allow a new motorway overbridge to open and switch traffic from the old to the new.

The closure has the potential to create the biggest gridlock the city has seen and motorists have been urged to stay at home and avoid congestion as the 60,000 vehicles which normally use the motorway look for alternative routes.

The Fire Service said it did not expect too many problems because motorists tended to get out of the way in a hurry when a heavy fire truck laden with water and with its red lights flashing wanted to get through.

It had also made plans to use fire trucks at either end of the closure rather than try to get through traffic.

However, St John Ambulance paramedics have added to their existing fleet of two emergency motorcycles with a new Honda Police Special, specially designed with extra wiring to take electrical gear used by emergency services.

As well as lights and sirens, the motorcycle has been modified to bear the weight of a box on top containing a life-saving defibrillator. Standard side paniers held other medical equipment.

It also had a small touch-sensitive screen for satellite navigation, a communications radio and a mobile data terminal fitted near the handlebars.

St John advanced paramedic Simon Gibb said even with the extra weight the motorcycle had superior handling.

"This is a great way to get paramedics to an emergency without delay."

- NZPA