Peak hour commuter chaos after tunnel fire

A truck carrying electrical goods caught fire in a major Sydney tunnel on Thursday morning, causing disruptions for multiple commuters.

A truck fire has caused peak hour commuter chaos in a major Sydney tunnel.

Sydney’s M4 and M8 motorways and the Rozelle Interchange were closed on Thursday morning in St Peters due a truck fire in the M8 tunnel, according to Live Traffic Sydney.

The M8 Mwy including the M4/M8 Mwy and the Rozelle Interchange are closed due to a van fire in the M8 tunnel. Avoid the area, use an alternative route and allow extra travel time.

Motorway crew, emergency services, transport for NSW and a tow truck attended the scene.

A Fire and Rescue NSW spokesperson confirmed six fire trucks and 24 firefighters responded to a truck fire in the M8 tunnel westbound, approximately 200m from the St Peters entrance, just after 8am this morning.

The spokesperson said the sprinkler system in the tunnel had activated and controlled the fire.

“The driver was evacuated from the vehicle,” he said.

“The vehicle was believed to be a van carrying electrical goods.”

Fire and Rescue NSW crews confirmed the fire was extinguished at 9.10am.

The spokesperson said Fire and Rescue NSW was liaising with tunnel management, and that tunnel management would organise tow trucks and liaise with police to reopen the tunnel shortly.

As of about a quarter to 9am on Thursday morning, the eastbound M4/M8 tunnel had reopened but the westbound tunnel remained closed from Rozelle through to Bexley.

Westbound motorists were advised to continue avoiding the area, use an alternative route and allow extra travel time.