Pacific Hwy reopens after four-truck crash

The Pacific Highway has reopened after a four-truck crash closed the critical transport artery north of Port Macquarie for more than 13 hours.

Warnings of significant delays in both directions near Telegraph Point have been issued by the Transport Management Centre after the early morning pile-up, which saw the heavy vehicles concertina into each other.

Traffic was backed up in both directions for up to 16km throughout Thursday as heavy tow-trucks and a crane were used to remove three B-doubles and a pantech truck from the narrow stretch of highway.

One driver in his 40s, who was trapped in the wreckage for hours, was airlifted to Newcastle Hospital and remains in a critical condition with chest and leg injuries.

A second 45-year-old driver, who was taken to Port Macquarie Hospital with minor injuries, has been released.