2 days ago
Footage emerges of terrifying crash that brought the Sydney Harbour Bridge to a standstill - as collision reignites calls for huge change
Terrifying footage has emerged of the horrific four-vehicle crash that shut down the Sydney Harbour Bridge as locals reignite calls for movable safety barriers.
The cars collided on the southern side at about 8am on Wednesday, with two people rushed to hospital and four of the six lanes closed.
Traffic backed up for kilometres, with queues reaching suburbs as far as Artarmon, Drummoyne and Woolloomooloo, as well as the Anzac Bridge.
Dashcam footage showed a Kia hatchback driving northward before it drifted into the oncoming lane and clipped a blue Mitsubishi SUV.
The SUV hit the vehicle beside it while the Kia collided head-on with another vehicle, immediately bringing traffic to a standstill.
Separate footage from the scene showed a man on a stretcher being placed into the back of an ambulance after paramedics treated three patients at the scene.
One was rushed to St Vincent's Hospital, while another was transported to Royal North Shore Hospital. Both were in stable conditions with minor injuries.
The multi-vehicle crash has prompted locals to demand safety changes to the reversible lane system on the bridge and the installation of movable barriers.
The calls were first made following a fatal crash in October when two men died after colliding head-on in the infamous 'suicide lane'.
Jamal Choukri, 44, who was on his way to work in Botany in Sydney's south, at the time.
A 51-year-old driver of a Hyundai i30, who was driving in the northbound lanes, crossed over into traffic in the southbound lanes before colliding with a Mercedes.
The vehicle then hit Mr Choukri's Hyundai Accent and the two drivers died on impact.
Sydneysiders have raised concerns about safety on the bridge and the digital direction signs that allow the flow of traffic to change directions on the interior lanes.
The direction of lane four, better known by locals as the 'death' or 'suicide' lane, is often reversed after peak-hour traffic each morning, before servicing northbound lanes in the afternoon.
Many agreed that concrete crash barriers or bollards needed to be installed on the bridge between the northbound and southbound traffic.
Others wanted the reversible lane system done away with entirely.
'Variable lanes without a concrete physical barrier like they do on Victorian roads are simply dangerous,' one woman wrote online.
The crash on Wednesday led to locals renewing calls for safety barriers.
'It's stupid: there's not a barrier between the opposing lanes. We have that on the Westgate Bridge and the Bolte Bridge,' one wrote.
Another added: 'It's either physical barriers or it's bigger, brighter arrows.'
'I never understood why they are not using the Movable Lane Barrier like on the Auckland Harbour Bridge. I think the Kiwis had it for 35 years,' a third wrote.
Transport for NSW said in October it would be considering the findings of a police investigation.
'In 2022, Transport installed clearer signage for motorists on the Bridge following a speed zone and signage review,' a spokeswoman said.
'The Sydney Harbour Bridge is not wide enough to fit a movable barrier system and retain all lanes in what is Sydney's most important traffic route.
'In 2015, following a serious collision, the use of a 'zipper' machine, similar to that used on Victoria Road at Drummoyne to move the barrier, was considered. However, it was found not to be suitable as it would force the removal of one lane from the bridge, reducing traffic capacity by 15 per cent.'
Daily Mail Australia contacted Transport for NSW with regard to Wednesday's crash.
