Massive delays on South Eastern Freeway near Bridgewater after truck breaks down
Traffic is slowly returning to normal after a truck ran out of fuel this morning causing delays of up to 90 minutes on the South Eastern Freeway.
SA News
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A double semi trailer that broke down on the South Eastern Freeway caused delays of up to 90 minutes for commuters this morning.
The truck, which became stranded in the left-hand lane on the hill just before the Bridgewater exit, just before 8am. It caused traffic on the down track to back up as far as Mt Barker.
About three hours later the truck was moved and traffic started to move again.
The truck near Bridgewater has been now been moved with two lanes now open to traffic - the large build up of vehicles is slowly clearing
— South Australia Police (@SAPoliceNews) October 31, 2019
It came on a day of severe fire danger in the Adelaide Hills and across the state.
Commuters said it took them between and hour and an hour and a half to get from Mt Barker to Bridgewater. Once past the truck, traffic was running smoothly.
The Advertiser employee Lynton Grace, who was commuting to work, said the truck was almost completely in the emergency lane, just jutting out into left-hand lane.
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A police car was stationed next to the truck and traffic merged into the right-hand lane around it, he said.
“All of that is being caused by maybe 30cm of a truck. That’s what’s incredible. There’s a lot of cars driving into the right-hand emergency lane and taking U-turns — which you’re not supposed to do.”
Huge delays on SE freeway after a truck break down. Stretches almost between Bridgewater and Mt Barker turn offs @10NewsFirstAdl pic.twitter.com/ANL5nSkcj4
— Brett Clappis (@BrettClappis) October 30, 2019
Meanwhile, in other traffic news the Eyre Highway is closed after a fuel tanker rolled over near Kimba and caught fire this morning.
The fuel tanker crash happened just after 7am on the Eyre Hwy at Kelly about 7km east of Kimba, where smoke was visible from the township.
The driver, luckily, escaped without injury.
CFS responding to Grass Fire at #EYRE_HIGHWAY,_KELLY #BAM ID=0003082 https://t.co/7DLkSyXBaY pic.twitter.com/D2Hb35qbo7
— CFS Talk (@CFSTalk) October 30, 2019
The Eyre Hwy is expected to be closed in both directions for several hours as emergency services are at the scene.
CFS advises people to close all doors and windows and stay inside.
The blaze comes as fire bans have been declared in eight districts around the state amid severe bushfire danger.
