A major traffic disruption unfolded in Sydney on Thursday afternoon after a car caught fire inside one of the city’s busiest tunnels, sparking a complete traffic nightmare. The incident occurred inside the M4 tunnel at Haberfield, where the driver of the vehicle noticed smoke emerging from the car and quickly pulled over into an emergency bay. This quick action, however, did little to prevent a massive gridlock that affected hundreds of commuters.
Fire and Rescue NSW swiftly responded to the scene, and the tunnels’ automatic deluge system was triggered, dumping a significant amount of water onto the burning vehicle. The fire was eventually extinguished by emergency services, but not before causing substantial delays. Traffic officials were forced to close both the M4 and M8 tunnels, impacting commuters traveling between Homebush, St Peters, and Rozelle.
The closure of these tunnels created chaos for those caught in the congestion, with drivers expressing their frustration. One motorist, snapping a picture of the scene, described the situation as a “s**tshow” due to the massive traffic backlog. The closures caused delays not only on the M4 but also on Victoria Road, where traffic remained heavy heading toward the city.
Motorists, stranded due to the M8 tunnel closure at St Peters, resorted to driving against traffic, hoping to get out of the gridlock. One driver shared their experience of being stuck in traffic for 45 minutes before finally turning around, only to find even worse traffic conditions on surrounding roads. “What should have been a 45-minute drive home ended up almost two hours,” the frustrated driver said.
Although the tunnels were reopened after the fire was extinguished, traffic remained a significant challenge for those trying to travel through the area. NSW Transport officials issued an advisory urging motorists to allow extra travel time, as the ripple effect of the incident continued to create bottlenecks on major roads.
The fire not only highlighted the vulnerability of Sydney’s major transport routes but also underscored the difficulty emergency services face when responding to incidents in confined spaces like tunnels. As authorities work to clear the lingering traffic, commuters are reminded of the importance of staying patient during such unexpected disruptions.
