NSW

Cahill Expressway truck rollover causes Harbour Bridge and Tunnel traffic chaos

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Sydney's Cahill Expressway has been reopened to southbound traffic after emergency services cleared a truck that had earlier rolled and spilled its load. 

However, motorists driving from Sydney's north are warned to expect ongoing lengthy delays to their journeys into the central city, while buses are running up to an hour late. Transport officials also warned people travelling to the Coldplay concert at Allianz Stadium at Moore Park to take public transport instead of driving.

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6km traffic jam after truck rollover

A truck carrying soil and rocks has turned over on the Cahill Expressway. Vision: Seven News

The truck, which was carrying dirt, overturned on the southbound on-ramp from the Cahill Expressway to the Domain Tunnel just before 1.45pm.

Its rear trailer tipped sideways, tipping dirt and debris onto several lanes.

As a result, the Cahill Expressway and the Sydney Harbour Tunnel were closed southbound, while northbound traffic on the Eastern Distributor was congested.

The Transport Management Centre (TMC) said traffic was "extremely heavy" after the crash across parts of the city, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

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Motorists queued for 6 kilometres from the Harbour Bridge to the Lane Cove Tunnel, and past Military Road over the Spit Bridge.

"As a result, motorists should avoid driving towards the city from the northern beaches, lower north shore and the Hills areas," a TMC spokeswoman said.

"Motorists should continue to allow plenty of extra travel time and expect lengthy delays."

Shortly before 3pm, southbound lanes in the Harbour Tunnel were reopened to traffic, as were those on the Cahill Expressway about an hour later.

However, an exit from the expressway to Macquarie Street remained closed to allow workers to clear sand spilled onto the road from the truck.

Some buses heading to the city stopped travelling over the Harbour Bridge for a time, ending their journeys at North Sydney station.

While buses resumed travelling over the bridge after 4pm, services were running up to an hour late.

Commuters were advised to catch a train.

Just before 2.30pm, the truck's trailer was put back onto its wheels by a heavy tow truck and emergency services and moved out of the way.

However, the delays are expected to continue for some time.