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A section of Auckland’s Waterview Tunnel was damaged by a car drifting and doing burnouts in an early morning joy ride this month.

Senior Sergeant Scott Cunningham said the vehicle with five people inside entered the tunnel around 1.30am on October 5 and was doing manoeuvres that created a blanket of smoke within the tunnel.

He said it caused major visibility issues.

“The vehicle concerned was quickly identified by Police and as a result, was impounded,” Cunningham said.

“The driver has been summonsed for loss of traction and reckless driving and all five individuals received infringements.”

A burnout involves keeping the vehicle stationary while spinning its wheels at the same time. The resulting friction causes the tyres to heat up and smoke.

The 2.4km Waterview Tunnel between Pt Chevalier and Mt Roskill opened in July 2017, and cost $1.4b to build. Photo / Dean Purcell.

Cunningham said a range of resources and tools, including the Police Eagle helicopter and the Joint Transport Operation Centre, were used.

“Police are going to hold the drivers responsible for what is clearly idiotic behaviour,” he said.

“They are putting other road users’ lives at risk whilst driving in such an irresponsible manner and using public roads as their own playground.”

A 20-year-old man was due to appear in Auckland District Court on Thursday charged with operating a motor vehicle causing a sustained loss of traction.

A Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency spokesperson said the Waterview Tunnel Joint Operation team was quickly alerted to the incident via CCTV and gave real-time, up-to-date information directly to the police.

“The Waterview Incident Response Crew also attended with their vehicles to assist with protecting the emergency services in the live lanes.

“This was an excellent display of different agencies working together, which brought a serious and dangerous incident to a safe conclusion.”

The 2.4km Waterview Tunnel which links Pt Chevalier and Mt Roskill opened in July 2017 and cost $1.4 billion to build.