Sydney’s M8 Motorway delays at Euston Road and King Georges road
- Overnight roadworks on the M8 caused mayhem
- Major traffic delays across Sydney
Sydney[3]'s rush hour traffic was thrown into chaos on Tuesday morning after maintenance workers turned on the sprinkler system in Sydney's M8 Motorway tunnel - and couldn't switch it off again.
The test malfunction saw the tunnel closed in both ways from 5am - and left traffic backed up for more than 27km after the tunnel between Euston Road and King Georges Road was closed in both directions.
One lane in each direction eventually reopened at about 8am
Aerial photos show traffic backed up along the M5 for up to 27km from Ingleburn in south-west Sydney, and it is expected to remain heavy through the morning.
Traffic cameras shows traffic backed up on the M5 Motorway near Camden
Cars have come to a standstill in both directions in inner-city St Peters
Traffic was backed up for up to 27km on Tuesday morning with the M8 Tunnel still closed
A commuter called into 2GB radio station to say he had been forced to slow down to just 15km/h on the 80km/h road.
"There's gonna be a lot of angry people...it's bumper to bumper...i'm going 15km/h and about to stop again," he said.
Motorists are advised to consider using the M5 East Motorway between Beverley Hills & Arncliffe or the M4-M8 Link between Haberfield and St Peters.
Some motorists reported their standard 50-minute drive into Sydney's CBD took more than two hours as a result of the chaos.
'Traffic is heavy on the alternative routes, and also on the M5. Expect delays and factor in extra travel time,' an alert states.
What's usually a 50 minute drive into the city turned into a two hour nightmare commute on Tuesday morning. Pictured are delays on the M5
It was a long commute north for motorists heading to work from Sydney's southern suburbs and Wollongong
There are similar traffic delays on the Princes Highway and King Georges Road.
Motorists are advised to consider using the M5 East Motorway between Beverley Hills & Arncliffe or the M4-M8 Link between Haberfield and St Peters is open.
The WestConnex M8 includes a tunnel linking Kingsgrove to St Peters and a new extension which connects the M8 at St Peters to the M4 at Haberfield.
King Georges Road was plunged into chaos after the M8 Motorway tunnel was closed until 8am
Lengthy traffic delays are expected to continue throughout the morning
References
- ^ Kylie Stevens For Daily Mail Australia (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ NCA NewsWire (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Sydney (www.dailymail.co.uk)