Major Sydney tunnel shut down after vehicle catches fire, commuter chaos
A major Sydney tunnel remains closed after a vehicle erupted in flames, causing lengthy delays and commuter chaos.
The M4 and M8 motorways and Rozelle Interchange were closed on Thursday morning at St Peters after a van, understood to be carrying electrical goods, caught fire.
It is understood a van caught fire in the M8 tunnel westbound, approximately 200m from the St Peters entrance just after 8am on Thursday.
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Emergency services, Transport for NSW, motorway crews and a tow truck attended the scene.
A Fire and Rescue NSW spokesperson confirmed the fire was extinguished at 9.10am, after six fire trucks and 24 firefighters responded to the fire at 8am.
They said the tunnel’s sprinkler system had activated and controlled the blaze, and the driver was evacuated from the vehicle.
It is understood Fire and Rescue NSW was liaising with tunnel management, which would organise tow trucks and liaise with police, in turn, to reopen the tunnel.
After 9am, Live Traffic NSW said the eastbound M4/M8 tunnel had reopened, but the westbound tunnel remained closed from Rozelle through to Bexley.
“Westbound motorists should continue to avoid the area, use an alternative route and allow extra travel time,” the update read.
