SYDNEY, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Sydney commuters are experiencing significant delays due to a fuel spill in the Sydney Harbor Tunnel during the peak hour rush, local media reported Thursday.
A truck traveling southbound in the tunnel dropped its fuel tank after it lost a tyre at about 6:30 a.m. local time on Thursday, according to the Australian Associated Press (AAP).
New South Wales (NSW) Fire and Rescue Superintendent Ian Krimmer said that about 150 liters of diesel were spilled for about 200 meters, causing all southbound lanes to be closed.
It took emergency crews about two hours to clean up the spill.
The tunnel was reopened shortly after 8:00 a.m. local time on Thursday, but traffic chaos was expected to continue throughout the morning.
Significant delays were also experienced on Military Road, Spit Road and surrounding roads.
Buses traveling in the area were delayed by up to 25 minutes.
"Motorists certainly deserve an apology," NSW Roads Minister Duncan Gay told Australia's Fairfax Radio on Thursday.
"They don't need to be having this. This is one of these situations where it appears that there may be problems on our side and I don't like those."
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