Rozelle interchange traffic: Transport bosses blame motorists, and teeting issues with new road

Traffic bedlam has angered drivers, some of whom have had their commute increased by 40 minutes since the $3.9bn spaghetti junction opened. Here’s why transport bosses say it is happening

Transport bosses are blaming a third day of traffic bedlam on the new Rozelle interchange on motorists, insisting commute times will improve once drivers get used to the roads.

Traffic bedlam along Victoria Rd up to the Anzac Bridge has continued to anger drivers travelling into the city, some of whom have had their commute increase from 15 to upwards of 55 minutes since the $3.9bn spaghetti junction opened on Sunday.

Even comedian Rebel Wilson  weighed in on the chaos yesterday as traffic into the CBD backed up kilometres through the inner west.

“Thanks Rozelle Interchange for now making a 15 minute trip into the city 90 minutes via Victoria Road! WTF!!!,” she wrote.

The City West Link at Haberfield is gridlocked heading into the city. The Rozelle interchange has just opened this week and is causing traffic issues. Picture: Rohan Kelly

To try to ease the morning peak, trucks from the nearby Metro dig sites will be diverted from the City West Link between 7am and 9.30am from today.  Transport for NSW secretary Josh Murray yesterday insisted travel times would improve as motorists got used to the new roads and “looked at the available options”.

The main pinch points are between Drummoyne and the CBD, with people not using the toll free Iron Cove Link tunnel, and the City West Link for drivers travelling into the CBD from the west, where three lanes merge into one before the Anzac Bridge.

“We accept that people are having a horror run in the morning if they’re using that City West

Even Rebel Wilson took to social media to vent. Picture: AFP

Link and it was made worse this morning by truck movements, a number of large accidents, an oil spill and also the rain which held people up a bit longer,” he said.

Transport for NSW co-ordinator-general Howard Collins also insisted the chaos was teething problems as motorists adjusted to the new network.  

“Come back to me after Christmas and if it’s still not working, I’ll have to eat something – my hat included,” he told 2GB’s Ben Fordham.

Roads Minister John Graham yesterday said  while he had sympathy for “the frustrations of some motorists”, there would be no toll free day on the Rozelle interchange or greater WestConnex network.

Aussie Actress Rebel Wilson took to social media to rage about the traffic on Victoria Road on Wednesday.

A car causing havoc by reversing at the entrance to the Victoria Road A40 tunnel of the new Rozelle Interchange, near the Iron Cove Bridge. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

“There will be an improvement over time and we do have to let it settle in,” he said.

Mr Graham said there was “nothing off the table by way of solutions” but said making major changes to the road configuration may not be “easy or safe or even possible”.

Opposition Roads spokeswoman Natalie Ward said telling –motorists the issues were just teething problems which would iron themselves out was not good enough.

“There is no accountability for this botched opening,” she said. “Sydney is one incident on the Anzac Bridge away from traffic coming to a standstill. My next concern is that due to government’s mismanagement, WestConnex might need to shut during peak hour because it isn’t safe to have commuters at a standstill inside tunnels.”

Howard Collins, Coordinator General Transport for NSW (left) and John Graham Minister for Roads, update media about the Rozelle interchange. They said motorists need to get used to the changes. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

Commuters travelling to work took to social media to vent their frustration at the delays. Sydneysider Roblintin Sandell posted on X it took him 45 minutes Wednesday morning to travel from Gladstone Park in Balmain to the CBD, where the trip usually takes around 14 minutes.

Another user complained it was impossible to get out of Balmain as “every exit toward the Iron Cove Bridge is backed up for miles”.

“The Rozelle Interchange is an absolute dog’s breakfast,” another user complained.

The government scrambled on Monday morning to fix confusing signs that Premier Chris Minns conceded were “not good enough,” a day after the interchange finally opened to traffic. The  signs led to motorists avoiding the free tunnel linking the Iron Cove Bridge and the Anzac Bridge, which bypasses Victoria Road.