About 15 motorists queued to be the first to use the final stage of the$17 billion WestConnex motorway when the interchange opened to traffic shortly after 5am on Sunday. They were escorted through the motorway junction by police.
Transport for NSW co-ordinator general Howard Collins said a motorist tried to reverse,and a few drivers made lane changes at the last minute during the day. However,he said 99 per cent of users had navigated the interchange correctly and kept to the speed limit.
“Whilst it looks like a bowl of spaghetti from above,the Rozelle interchange is actually quite a simple decision-making process,” he said.
“It’s either turn left or go to the right. You have two choices as you enter many of these tunnels. It isn’t complex – just observe those signs and check that you know your route.”
Collins warned drivers that attempting to reverse out of entrances to motorway tunnels was “very dangerous” and against the law. “Continue your journey. Even if you’ve made a mistake,there will be a relatively easy route out,and then you can get back on track,” he said.
Transurban,which operates WestConnex,said a motorist pulled up and tried to reverse on a ramp from the Anzac Bridge as they were about to enter a tunnel in the interchange for the M4 motorway.