Drivers stuck in traffic jam for over an hour after fault inside Sydney Harbour Tunnel

Chaos has unfolded as a result of a main traffic link connecting Sydneysiders with opposing sides of the harbour shutting down unexpectedly.

Traffic that would typically be streaming through the Sydney Harbour Tunnel has been brought to a standstill as a result of a fault forcing the underwater passage’s closure.

The tunnel was shut to traffic in both directions just after 11am Tuesday and according to Live Traffic, remained closed into the early afternoon before reopening just before 1pm.

SYDNEY: The Sydney Harbour Tunnel is closed in both directions due to a technical fault with the CCTV cameras. Traffic is heavy both directions. Use the Harbour Bridge instead. pic.twitter.com/kTIjWO88cz

— Live Traffic Sydney (@LiveTrafficSyd) June 14, 2022

Transport for NSW and the Motorway Crew were in attendance as maps showed huge traffic jams on each side of the harbour.

Live Traffic announced the closure of northbound lanes on Cahill Expressway just after 11am due to a two car crash in the Domain Tunnel, and told drivers to use the Harbour Bridge instead.

Heavy traffic shown banked up on the northbound lane heading. Picture: Live Traffic

About an hour later, it announced the tunnel had to be closed in both directions due to a technical fault with the CCTV system.

Images showed all northbound lanes brimming with cars before the lanes were reopened.

Within a few minutes of traffic being allowed back into the tunnel, the flow of cars was reinstated and the backlog was cleared.

Some residual traffic remained on the southbound end in the immediate aftermath, however it was expected to be cleared shortly after 1pm.