Commuters in Sydney faced severe disruption on Thursday after the sudden closure of a major motorway tunnel over fears its concrete roof could collapse, leaving some drivers stranded for up to four hours.
Emergency Closure and Safety Concerns
The westbound lanes of the M4 motorway tunnel within the WestConnex network were closed from around 6am on Thursday. The shutdown, between Haberfield and North Strathfield, was ordered for emergency roadworks.
Howard Collins, Transport for NSW's coordinator general, explained that operator Transurban requested the closure following an overnight inspection. Engineers had identified significant bulges in the tunnel's roof lining, made from a sprayed concrete known as shockcrete.
"The engineers... discovered a couple of large bulges in the tunnel roof," Collins said. "And quite rightly, for safety reasons, they were concerned that if there was a major issue with this shockcrete, it could fall on vehicles." This material separates the tunnel structure from a waterproof membrane and the sandstone above.
Prolonged Delays and Communication Failure
The closure caused gridlock during the morning peak, with motorists reporting delays of up to two hours. Some social media posts indicated drivers were stuck inside the tunnel itself for as long as four hours.
Transport Minister Jo Haylen's spokesperson, Jenny Aitchison, acknowledged the frustration of road users and criticised Transurban's handling of the incident. She stated there had been an "absolute failure here in communication" to warn drivers ahead of the morning rush hour. An initial offer of assistance from Transport for NSW was also reportedly rebuffed by the private operator.
Aitchison linked the problems to the privatisation of the toll road, stating the delays represented a "failure of privatisation" in how the asset is managed.
Ongoing Works and Toll Refunds
By Thursday afternoon, only one of the three westbound lanes had been reopened to traffic. However, Transurban sought permission to close all lanes again at 10pm to continue essential repair work.
Authorities demanded assurances on the structural integrity of the tunnel before a full reopening could be considered for Friday. Collins indicated that if the issue was confined to the shockcrete and membrane, workers would remove the hazardous material to ensure safety.
In a small consolation for affected drivers, Aitchison confirmed that Transurban had indicated it would refund tolls collected from road users impacted by the closure. Collins added that the company's own tolling data would provide a clear picture of the extent of the delays, stating, "We will know when people enter the tunnel, when they exited, because the toll machines give us that forensic information."
The incident occurs amid complex negotiations between the NSW government and Transurban, which holds a majority stake in the state's private toll roads including WestConnex assets like the M4, regarding plans to unify tolling across Sydney.
