How to avoid Victoria Road gridlock this afternoon: What you need to know

The NSW Transport boss has scrambled to install new signs and lane markings at the city’s new ‘spaghetti junction’ in a bid to avoid the chaos which brought Sydney to a standstill this morning, conceding signage was ‘not clear enough’.

Motorists were left confused after the opening of the new motorway at Rozelle. Picture: Sunrise

New signs will be in place as early as this afternoon in a bid to help avoid traffic chaos that plagued the morning commute on Victoria Road, after motorists were left flummoxed by how to navigate Australia’s most complex underground road junction.

The government scrambled on Monday morning to fix confusing signs that Premier Chris Minns conceded were “not good enough,” a day after the Rozelle Interchange finally opened to traffic.

The confusing signs led to motorists avoiding the free tunnel linking the Iron Cove Bridge and the Anzac Bridge — which bypasses Victoria Road — unaware they wouldn’t be slugged for using it.

“Many people weren’t aware that you could use a big chunk of that new roadway and not have to pay a toll at all,” Mr Minns said.

Transport boss Josh Murray owned up to the mistake on 2GB, telling Ray Hadley the signs were “not clear enough”.

The sign causing traffic chaos in Sydney's inner west on Monday morning. Picture: 9 News

“We’ll get a sign either modified or a new sign up as soon as practical and also as soon as it’s able to be done safely,” he said.

Some electronic signs were changed at about 7am in a bid to remind drivers that the tunnel between the Iron Cove Bridge and Anzac Bridge was free.

Transport for NSW will tonight paint new line markings heading into the Iron Cove Link tunnel city bound to make it clear to drivers they can take the tunnel to get to the CBD.

Unclear signage has seen many drivers make last minute turns to avoid suspecting tolls. Picture: Sunrise

Mr Minns said some of the signs will be changed “this afternoon”, and electronic signs will be erected “hopefully today” to service drivers on Tuesday.

“It hasn’t been good this morning. We want to make sure it runs as efficiently as possible,” he said.

Transport for NSW Co-ordinator General Howard Collins warned motorists from trying to change lanes at the last minute, or reversing to take a different route.

“It’s highly dangerous, it’s against the law, you will face a fine,” he said.

Many were seen performing illegal turns. Picture: Sunrise

Mr Collins said the government had been “working for the last two weeks” to tell motorists of the changes.

However, as late as Friday last week, government officials were refusing to confirm that the Rozelle Interchange would be open in time for Monday’s commute.

They attempted to keep Sunday’s opening under wraps until Saturday afternoon, leaving some motorists in the dark about the changes.

COMPLETE INCOMPETENCE

Motorists travelling westbound on the Anzac Bridge to Iron Cove bridge should stick to the two left-hand lanes to enter the tunnel bypassing Victoria Road. After entering the tunnel, motorists need to veer left for signs to Drummoyne.

Liberal roads spokeswoman Natalie Ward said Sydney’s drivers are paying the price for “the Transport Minister’s mate Josh Murray and his complete inexperience”.

“This is what happens when under qualified people do important jobs, the basics go out the window.”

“Josh was happy to the cut the ribbon on the Interchange but when it comes to operating it, he has no idea what to do.”

EARLIER

This morning thousands of commuters struggled to navigate the ‘spaghetti junction’ due to the confusing signage.

The interchange is a toll-free underground bypass of Victoria Road and connects motorists to the M4 and M8 tunnel extensions, Anzac Bridge, the Western Distributor and the City West Link.

But motorists, confused by the signage, were making last-minute lane changes, unaware the tunnel between the Iron Cove Bridge and the Anzac Bridge is free.

Live Traffic warned drives to allow for extra time due to the new infrastructure.

Mr Minns said it was “confusing that spaghetti junction is difficult to navigate and a lot of cars’ GPS haven’t caught up because there has been no traffic activity before today,”.

There is chaos in Sydney this morning as motorists attempt to navigate the new Rozelle interchange as drivers attempt to use a new tunnel towards the west.
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Mr Murray conceded “today’s test was obviously not clear enough for people.”

The Daily Telegraph had an exclusive look at the new $3.9 billion Rozelle interchange last week, offering 16 kilometres of road tunnels twisting underneath the inner-city suburbs of Rozelle, Lilyfield and Annandale.

Drivers are being promised they will be able to save up to 19 minutes on a trip between Parramatta and the Sydney CBD when using the interchange, but they can expect to pay for the pleasure.