A man was airlifted to hospital with serious injuries after his car collided with a truck on the Hume Highway near Goulburn, sparking lengthy delays for northbound motorists on Monday afternoon.

Emergency services crews and a police crash investigation team were called to the scene of the crash about 2.30pm.

Police said the car’s male driver was airlifted to Canberra Hospital in a serious condition.

The driver of the truck would undergo mandatory blood and urine testing.

Northbound lanes of the highway near the Hume Street turn-off were closed for at least two hours, and police put a contra-flow lane in place to let motorists through and ease delays.

Drivers were urged to avoid the area due to heavy traffic, with queues stretching about four kilometres south.

All lanes were reopened by 6pm but traffic in the area remained congested.