Motorists are being urged to avoid Sydney Airport this morning after a fuel tanker crash forced the closure of Southern Cross Drive and Wentworth Avenue in both directions.
The tanker carrying 34,000 litres of diesel and unleaded fuel overturned while heading north on Wentworth Avenue, near the intersection of Southern Cross Drive, about 3.50am. About 300 litres of fuel spilled across the road.
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Fuel tanker crash near Sydney Airport
Lengthy traffic delays ensue as Southern Cross Drive is closed in both directions.
Wentworth Avenue and Southern Cross Drive were closed in both directions at Mascot. The closures are expected to be in place during the morning peak and may remain throughout the day, the NSW Transport Management Centre said.
The rollover has caused traffic chaos, with commuters in the area facing hour-long delays. Those travelling to the airport have been advised to take the train.
Superintendent Paul Bailey of Fire & Rescue NSW said the remaining fuel must be drained out of the tanker so it can be put back in position safely.
This process is expected to take several hours.
Earlier Fire & Rescue NSW Superintendent Greg Rankin said HAZMAT crews set up a 200-metre exclusion zone around the site, due to the flammable vapours from the fuel.
"They covered the spilled fuel with foam. They put a foam blanket over it to reduce any flammable vapours," Mr Rankin said.
"They're also monitoring the atmosphere around that to make sure it's safe."
The tanker, with a capacity of 34,000 litres, was split into six compartments carrying diesel and unleaded, Mr Rankin said.
"When the truck overturned, there's caps on the top and all the fuel's leaking out of the split cap at the top. So that's why it's only 200-300 litres. It could have been a lot worse. If the whole lot had gone we would have been in a lot of trouble," Mr Rankin said.
Traffic was already very heavy by 5am as HAZMAT crews from Fire & Rescue NSW worked to mop up the fuel spill, which is blocking the major approach to Australia's busiest airport.
It could have been a lot worse. If the whole lot had gone we would have been in a lot of trouble.
Fire and Rescue Superintendent Greg Rankin
About 7am, Mr Rankin said Southern Cross Drive had reopened, but significant delays are expected to remain, with the clean-up expected to continue until 2pm.
Mr Rankin said a contractor would be brought in by the truck company to clean up the mess.
"They're looking at decanting the remaining fuel in the overturned tanker into another truck. They've got a crane coming as well to upright the truck once the decanting operations have concluded and it's safe," he said.
Eastbound motorists on Wentworth Avenue are being diverted to Sutherland Street. Westbound motorists are being diverted to Page Street.
Southbound motorists on Southern Cross Drive were diverted to Todman Avenue, while northbound traffic was diverted on to General Holmes Drive.
An aviation firefighting team from Sydney Airport also came to help.
The male truck driver, 46, was not hurt in the crash. He was breath-tested at the scene and returned a negative result, a police spokesman said.
Truck crash kills driver
In a separate incident, two trucks have collided in Sydney's south-west, killing one of the drivers.
Police say the crash happened on Fairford Road at Padstow at about 3.20am on Friday.
The driver died at the scene.
The driver of the second truck was uninjured and was taken to hospital for mandatory testing.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
With AAP