Motorists will be spared a hellish evening commute after a crane crashed and overturned inside the M5 East tunnel, with authorities saying citybound lanes will be reopened before the afternoon peak.
The large crane rolled over in the eastbound M5 tunnel near Bexley North around 11.30am on Tuesday, with images from underground showing extensive damage to both the vehicle and the tunnel wall, and debris strewn across the road.
Authorities initially closed the entire four-kilometre tunnel in both directions because the crash disabled the tunnel’s deluge sprinkler system, but later reopened all westbound lanes. Eastbound lanes are expected to be opened by peak hour on Tuesday afternoon.
While temporary repairs have been made to damaged parts of the road, the city-bound tunnel will be closed from 7pm on Tuesday for more significant repairs.
The stretch of tunnel runs from Bexley North to Arncliffe, with eastbound lanes closed from Bexley Road and city bound on-ramp from Kingsgrove Road for several hours.
Transport for NSW earlier advised motorists to avoid the area and use detours, as it warns of a protracted effort in removing the crane from the tunnel.
The suggested D5 detour takes King Georges Road, Stoney Creek Road, Forest Road, Wickham Street, West Botany Street, Marsh Street to the M5 motorway, avoiding the tunnel.
Transport for NSW executive director of operations management, Craig Moran, said repairs would be completed before Wednesday’s morning’s peak hour traffic.
“They’ll work very diligently tonight,” Moran said.
Read the full article here
