A serious freeway into Sydney was closed for around 10 hours today after a truck carrying metal debris lost its load on the southbound lanes of the M1 around 5:00am this morning, puncturing the tyres of lots of of cars and causing a traffic jam extending almost 30km.
The ABC reports a lot of cars were left stuck on the side of the road after being damaged by metal shards that spilled from a truck across an enormous stretch of the busy of road between the Recent South Wales capital and Newcastle.
The NRMA said it received lots of of calls from stranded motorists on the NSW Central Coast, with some vehicles suffering multiple punctures between Palmdale and the Mooney Mooney Bridge.
A bit of the motorway was closed between Ourimbah and the Calga Interchange – a distance of just about 30km – while the day-long cleanup took place. It was finally reopened at 3pm.
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All southbound motorists were diverted onto the Pacific Highway at Ourimbah, and a trucking company based in Sydney’s west later admitted it one was one its trucks that unintentionally dropped several tonnes of scrap metal on the road.
Horsley Park trucking company NJ Ashton has arrange an internet site addressing affected motorists and says all reasonable costs will likely be covered under its insurance policy.
“Just little bits of steel… so we’re talking tonnes, 40 tonnes of it at the back of our truck… it’s called flock, so it’s similar to scrap metal and we transport the fabric,” the corporate’s general manager Daniel Falconer told the ABC.
“The pins holding the trailer gate were secure, so it’s a mystery the way it got here to spill.”
Mr Falconer said the driving force of the truck loaded his vehicle late yesterday and that investigations were ongoing into the explanation for the mishap.
“We’re taking full responsibility for what’s happened and are very sorry for any damage and disruption that’s been caused,” said NJ Ashton is a press release.
“Our immediate priority helps with the cleanup. As soon as we were notified concerning the accident, we sent every qualified mechanic we’ve to help authorities and help get drivers back on the road.
“We still don’t fully understand how this occurred. At this stage it appears to have been an accident.
“Once the cleanup is resolved, we’ll investigate what went unsuitable. The truck driver has been doing the run for a few 12 months and is experienced, and our fleet is recurrently serviced and maintained.
“We’ve all the time held ourselves to the best standards and are in full compliance with all certifications and regulations. We take our public responsibility and commitment to the communities during which we operate very seriously.”
A commuter named Roger, who entered the freeway at Kariong and felt the debris under his tyres soon after, told 702 ABC Radio Sydney he was in a position to change a punctured tyre himself several kilometres down the road.
“There was a warning sign of debris on the Mooney Mooney Bridge,” he said. “Driving across the bridge it felt like I used to be going over a bed of gravel and from that time on there was virtually non-stop cars pulled over on the side of the road.”
“I got so far as Berowra and I had one flat tyre. So lucky, because the people next to me had two tyres affected and had to attend for help.”
One other driver who was stranded by two flat tyres told ABC Radio Central Coast that he saw 20 to 30 cars stranded on the M1, all with flat tyres and their hazard lights on.
“It’s only a disaster in the mean time… I’m just waiting for a tow truck [to] hopefully get me back to Gosford so I can get my two tyres sorted out,” he said.
NRMA roadside assist manager Simon Denic told the ABC many drivers had later arrived at their destination to seek out their vehicles struck down by slowly deflating tyres.
NSW Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said the federal government agency had received reports that as many as 380 vehicles can have been damaged.
“That is an unprecedented situation,” she said.
“We’re working with all of the resources of presidency and the private sector to do the clean up.
“It is rather difficult because small pieces of metal are very difficult to choose up – for those who can imagine it’s like attempting to hoover up the highway.”
The minister said the priority is clearing a backlog of B-double trucks unable to show around.
“That may ease the congestion,” she said. “We’re taking a look at a really protracted situation. We’re talking hours and potentially to the tip of day.”
NSW Police told the ABC a 46-year-old male truck driver was assisting officers.
Transport Management Centre coordinator Howard Collins said emergency services assisted the TMC in removing cars from the freeway, while the trucking company employed magnetic sweepers to assist clear debris from the road.
“It truly is a difficult job, never seen it before, hopefully never again,” he said.
The NRMA said it dispatched extra patrols and tow trucks to the world, and apologised for wait times of greater than two hours for assistance.
However the incident attracted each positive and negative reactions on the NRMA’s social media channels, with one commenter saying “Kudos to the trucking company for owning this and promising to make amends” and one other asking “Will the owners pay for the inconvenience for drivers eg missed flights, missed doctors appointments, what about people travelling for a final goodbye with a loved one and miss it.”
This Article First Appeared At www.carexpert.com.au
