Sydney holiday traffic chaos as car explodes on Princes Motorway

A car has burst into flames on a busy motorway, worsening heavy traffic as holiday makers return from their long weekends.

A “massive” car fire sparked chaos on a busy motorway on Monday, causing heavy traffic and delays for holiday makers returning to Sydney after a long weekend away.

The car, which a witness described as a pale green Peugeot, was completely immersed in flames about midday on Monday, with emergency services racing to the scene.

Northbound traffic was banked up on the Princes Motorway, about 2.5km north of Picton Road, by midday and delays expected to worsen into the night.

Four people were seen standing near the blaze, with the flames reportedly reaching up to 10-feet high.

A witness told NCA NewsWire at first all northbound lanes had been stopped, and the car was “entirely on fire”.

Traffic held up north-bound on Mt Ousley Rd, massive car fire. Emergency services on scene now #wollongong, Picture: Supplied via Twitter Claudia Hirst, @claudiahirst98

Emergency services extinguished the blaze by 1pm, but traffic delays remain. Picture: RFS

She said there were more than 100 cars banked up before emergency services arrived to help.

While the site was cleared at around 1pm, motorists are still advised that they could expect significant delays and have been urged to exercise care in the area.

Delays are expected to worsen throughout the day as high volumes of holiday traffic will travel through Phesants Nest during peak travel periods on Monday evening.

Traffic was banked up for kilometres by 12:40pm, with conditions only expected to worsen. Picture: Live Traffic NSW

NSW’s Transport Management Centre has advised of heavy traffic on main roads across the state:

In greater Sydney:

• Around Sydney Olympic Park, traffic is heavy in both directions on Homebush Bay Drive approaching Underwood Road and Australia Ave due to the Easter Show. All car parks are now sold out and motorists are advised to take public transport if attending the show.
  
• Cowan, southbound traffic on the M1 Pacific Motorway is heavy.

Southbound traffic into Sydney near Brooklyn is heavy after a car breakdown earlier today.

In the north:

· From Tomago to Tarro, southbound traffic on the Pacific Highway and westbound traffic on the New England Highway is heavy.

· In Heatherbrae, southbound traffic on the Pacific Highway and New England Highway is heavy. Expected to worsen during peak periods due to holiday traffic approaching Beresfield.

· In Tweed Heads, northbound traffic is heavy on the Pacific Motorway.

In the south:

· In Ulladulla, northbound traffic is heavy on the Princes Highway.

· Approaching Milton, northbound traffic is heavy on the Princes Highway.

· From Jerrawangala to Wandandian, northbound traffic is heavy on the Princes Highway.

· In Nowra, northbound traffic is heavy on the Princes Highway.

In the west:

· From Mount Victoria to Blackheath, eastbound traffic is heavy on the Great Western Highway. Expected to worsen during peak periods due to holiday traffic. Motorists leaving Katoomba should travel via Leura to access the Great Western Highway, due to very heavy traffic on all approaches to Park St.

Originally published as Sydney holiday traffic chaos as car explodes on Princes Motorway