New South Wales traffic updates: Bulli highway changes ease congestion, M5 tunnel fan failure causes gridlock

Transport for New South Wales reported that recent modifications to the Princes Highway in Bulli have improved traffic flow. Changes included banning right‑turns at Station Street, adding street parking, extending clearway hours on weekdays and Saturdays, upgrading traffic lights, pedestrian crossings, and the Memorial Drive roundabout. A spokesperson said the measures have reduced conflict points and made travel safer for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.

In Sydney, a faulty ventilator fan in the M5 East Tunnel forced the eastbound lanes to close for more than six hours. The shutdown created traffic backups of up to 13 kilometres during the morning peak, affecting thousands of commuters. Transurban, the toll‑road operator, said the fan was replaced on safety grounds and that the tunnel’s 147 fans have no immediate backup plan, highlighting ongoing reliability issues with the M5 infrastructure.