Sydney Harbour Bridge Chaos: Police Operation Leads to Major Traffic Delays

A police operation on the iconic Harbour Bridge in Sydney caused significant chaos during peak-hour traffic, leading to major delays for commuters. The operation, which required a substantial response from police and ambulances, resulted in traffic queues stretching for kilometers past the Anzac Bridge and the Lane Cove Tunnel.

Commuters attempting to cross the Harbour Bridge in either direction were advised to seek alternative routes by the Transport Management Centre. Although all lanes were reopened and the operation was resolved by 9 am, traffic congestion persisted, with queues exceeding 8 kilometers past the Anzac Bridge and more than 16 kilometers to the Lane Cove Tunnel.

The Transport Management Centre recommended using Victoria Road or the Sydney Harbour Tunnel as alternative routes, with southbound traffic extending back to the M2 in Macquarie Park and northbound traffic experiencing delays on the Eastern Distributor and other surrounding roads.

Buses crossing the Harbour Bridge also faced significant delays, with trips between the Iron Cove Bridge and Milsons Point seeing an increase of up to 30 minutes. Additionally, heavy traffic was reported southbound on the Warringah Freeway from Lane Cove, and delays spilled over onto the Eastern Distributor.

This traffic disruption followed a severe storm that swept through the city, bringing over 75,000 lightning strikes and causing disruptions to transportation services. The storm caught many off guard, particularly city workers, and resulted in power outages for tens of thousands of homes and businesses in the northern areas.

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