Burst water main near Spit Bridge causes third day of travel headache
Roads remain flooded, trains are still cancelled or delayed, and Northern Beaches drivers faced their third nightmare commute this week alone. Here’s how Sydney is travelling today.
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Commuters from the Northern Beaches endured a third day of traffic chaos after a burst water main partially cut off a major artery road this morning.
The Spit Bridge at Mosman all but closed during peak hour this morning after a water main burst about 5:30pm on Thursday evening.
The Transport Management Centre warned motorists as peak hour began to avoid the area if possible.
“Heavy traffic on Spit Rd near Parriwi Rd where a contra flow is in place due to a burst water main,” the TMC wrote.
One lane open each direction. Slow down and allow plenty of extra travel time.“
The road has since fully reopened to traffic, though delays remain.
Repair crews were forced to dig a trench across three southbound lanes to try and fix the main, and traffic queues were heavy, stretching back 2.5km to Manly Vale and growing, and motorists are urged to find alternate routes.
A Transport Management Centre spokesman suggested Upper North Shore residents use Warringah Rd.
“There is 2.5km citybound traffic and about 1km of northbound traffic … we are encouraging people to use Warringah Rd, it will save them some time,” the spokesman said.
“But because of this, Warringah Rd is a little heavier than usual.”
Northern Beaches residents driving to the city have had a tough time of it this week - on Monday, the Sydney Harbour Bridge was closed for over an hour after a serious accident during peak hour which saw a car flip and catch fire.
Then on Thursday, Fireproof Australia protesters blocked the Western Distributor at 7:30am.
Weeks earlier, the Spit Bridge was targeted by the same group of protesters, who sat on the road with signs and refused to move before being dragged away by police.
Elsewhere around Sydney, more than a dozen roads remain closed due to the major flooding across the city earlier this week.
Roads in Windsor, McGraths Hill, Cattai, Maraylya, Schofields, Riverston, Galston, Douglas Park, East Kurrajong, Shanes Park and the Royal National Park are still yet to be opened following the deluge of water.
The traffic chaos today comes amid another day of train delays and cancellations, with Transport for NSW warning the ongoing issues from the flooding would continue into Friday.
“While delays and cancellations cannot be avoided at this time, every effort is being made to provide you with safe alternatives,” TfNSW wrote.
“Crews are working around the clock to assess damage and clear debris quickly. Every effort is being made to maintain services and provide customers with safe alternatives.”
All Macarthur services will start and end at Campbelltown on the T8 Airport and South line. Trains are running late on the Bankstown line due to speed restrictions between Campsie and Birrong. Buses replace trains between Hornsby and Berowra on the North Shore line.
On the Blue Mountains line, trains are still not running between Penrith and Lithgow and are replaced by a bus service.
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