Traffic chaos Sydney-bound on M1 as hundreds of cars left with flat tyres due to metal shards
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Authorities say it could take the entire day to clear shards of metal dropped onto the M1 motorway, puncturing hundreds of car tyres and causing massive traffic delays.
Earlier this morning a truck carrying metal debris travelling southbound lost its load between Palmdale and the Mooney Mooney Bridge.
An almost 30-kilometre stretch of the motorway is closed between Ourimbah and the Calga Interchange.
NSW Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said they have received reports that as many as 380 vehicles may have been damaged.
"This is an unprecedented situation," she said.
"We are working with all the resources of government and the private sector to do the clean up.
The minister said the priority is clearing a backlog of B-double trucks unable to turn around.
"That will ease the congestion," she said.
"We are looking at a very protracted situation, we're talking hours and potentially to the end of day."
The Transport Management Centre coordinator Howard Collins said calls started coming in about 5am, with hundreds of vehicles affected.
He said the metal came from a vehicle towing a trailer with scrap metal.
"The backdoor of that vehicle has come open and spread thousands of pieces of sharp metal all across the motorway," he said.
"Hundreds of vehicles have had their tyres punctured by this metal.
"I've seen photographs [of] multiple tyres, so it's no use changing one tyre, because three or four have gone."
Company spokesperson Daniel Falconer said the driver set off south towards Sydney this morning with 40 tonnes of scrap metal on the back, with some of the material spilling from the back.
He said the driver, who had been doing the journey for the past three months, loaded the truck yesterday afternoon and there were no signs of a problem.
"He didn't see it, he didn't know … We don't know exactly how it's been done, a mechanical error of some sort," Mr Falconer said.
"Definitely our problem, we take full responsibility.
"'If anyone needs any assistance, we'll be paying for everything through our insurance."
NSW Police said a 46-year-old male truck driver was assisting officers.
Mr Collins said the company would also assist with the clean-up.
"The boss, apparently, is sending sweepers, a sort of magnetic device which picks up the metal, because it's going to take us hours to do this," he said.
"It really is a difficult job, never seen it before, hopefully never again."
Emergency services will assist the TMC with removing cars from the motorway.
Motorist Jon Heaney described the situation as "pandemonium".
"Cars are scattered, they're all on the verge ... some are in the slow lane," he said.
Earlier this morning a truck carrying metal debris travelling southbound lost its load between Palmdale and the Mooney Mooney Bridge.
An almost 30-kilometre stretch of the motorway is closed between Ourimbah and the Calga Interchange.
All southbound motorists are being diverted onto the Pacific Highway at Ourimbah.
NSW Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said they have received reports that as many as 380 vehicles may have been damaged.
"This is an unprecedented situation," she said.
"We are working with all the resources of government and the private sector to do the clean up.
The minister said the priority is clearing a backlog of B-double trucks unable to turn around.
"That will ease the congestion," she said.
"We are looking at a very protracted situation, we're talking hours and potentially to the end of day."
The Transport Management Centre coordinator Howard Collins said calls started coming in about 5am, with hundreds of vehicles affected.
Shards of metal found on the M1 motorway. (Supplied: NSW Rural Fire Service)
The small pieces of metal have been strewn across the road on the M1 in the Southbound lane. (Supplied: Jenny Aitchison)
He said the metal came from a vehicle towing a trailer with scrap metal.
"The backdoor of that vehicle has come open and spread thousands of pieces of sharp metal all across the motorway," he said.
"Hundreds of vehicles have had their tyres punctured by this metal.
"I've seen photographs [of] multiple tyres, so it's no use changing one tyre, because three or four have gone."
Traffic built up on the M1 motorway heading south. (Supplied: Transport for NSW)
Insurance to pay
Trucking company NJ Ashton from Horsley Park in Sydney's west says one of its trucks was responsible for the spill.Company spokesperson Daniel Falconer said the driver set off south towards Sydney this morning with 40 tonnes of scrap metal on the back, with some of the material spilling from the back.
He said the driver, who had been doing the journey for the past three months, loaded the truck yesterday afternoon and there were no signs of a problem.
"He didn't see it, he didn't know … We don't know exactly how it's been done, a mechanical error of some sort," Mr Falconer said.
"Definitely our problem, we take full responsibility.
"'If anyone needs any assistance, we'll be paying for everything through our insurance."
Heavy traffic has built up on the M1 motorway heading south towards Sydney. (Supplied: Transport for NSW)
NSW Police said a 46-year-old male truck driver was assisting officers.
Mr Collins said the company would also assist with the clean-up.
"The boss, apparently, is sending sweepers, a sort of magnetic device which picks up the metal, because it's going to take us hours to do this," he said.
"It really is a difficult job, never seen it before, hopefully never again."
Emergency services will assist the TMC with removing cars from the motorway.
'Cars are scattered'
One motorist found these shards of metal in his tyre. (Supplied: Luke Pullen)
Motorist Jon Heaney described the situation as "pandemonium".
"Cars are scattered, they're all on the verge ... some are in the slow lane," he said.
Another motorist told the ABC a warning about the incident came too late for scores of drivers who ran over the metal in foggy conditions.
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