Current Conditions
Only the inner west carriageway is reversible, with the inner east carriageway feeding the tunnel southbound. All carriageways were widened by utilizing the breakdown lane space, and remarking the existing lanes. After the North Sydney northbound onramp, there are 16 lanes across the whole corridor for a short distance, becoming 10 lanes before the Brook Street exit, and then 6 after the Willoughby road exit. This feeds onto the Gore Hill freeway, completed in 1992.
The arrangement is now mostly 4x3x3x3 through the section with the switchable carriageway, with variations in the width of the outer carriageways as ramps enter and exit the freeway. In 2007, major changes to the Military road overpass have occurred with an extra three ramps added, and two extra lanes on the connecting Gore Hill freeway at the northern end (Part of the Lane Cove Tunnel project). The overpass where these five ramps originate has been widened for an attempt to channel all the traffic.
The first of the new Military Road ramps opened in June 2006. Most northbound traffic now has to exit from the right of the six northbound outer carriageway lanes, instead of the left. The previous exit ramp (for a right turn into Military Road) previously had three general lanes and one bus lane. There are now no general lanes, and two bus lanes. Traffic turning left into Military Rd still uses the old ramp. The stated reason for this change is to remove all the traffic which enters the freeway at North Sydney, then exits again at Military Road, adding to rush hours delays.
The carriageway change over process was automated around 1990, with moveable barriers and overhead signage directing traffic onto the correct lanes. The changeover occurs when the Harbour Bridge needs either 5 or 6 lanes southbound (the default is 4 each way). There is only ever a maximum of 5 lanes northbound off the bridge, with the extra lane feeding into a spare lane on the inner west carriageway. Changeover times are around 06:30 and 09:00 Monday to Friday.
A 24-hour Bus Lane (buses, taxi cabs and hire cars) was added after the Sydney Harbour Tunnel opened in 1992. It runs southbound on the outer carriageway and across the Harbour Bridge. This has proven to be a major success, carrying more persons in the morning rush hour than all other southbound lanes combined.
Almost all entry and exit ramps on the freeway are controlled by traffic signals. Most of the ramps are of sufficient length to avoid any delays to through traffic, with the exception of Military road. The arrangement for accessing the Harbour bridge (For City and west access) southbound can be confusing for anyone unfamiliar with the road, with a choice of either competing with traffic approaching the Sydney Harbour Tunnel via the two lanes at the inner eastern carriageway or having to cross the Bus Lane. The traffic improved when the Sydney Harbour Tunnel went electronic/cashless: the toll is charged either by a beep of an e-tag or by number-plate reading (unless you pay the toll within 48 hours of the number-plate reading, you will be fined); such an arrangement is not uncommon in Sydney, as the Westlink M7, Cross City Tunnel, Lane Cove Tunnel and the M2 Hills Motorway (from December 2007) are fully cashless/electronic. The toll cost is A$3 for southbound vehicles only - Same for the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The traffic improved, allowing only electronic toll enabled traffic to move more efficiently when approaching the Sydney Harbour Tunnel (southbound) at 80 km/h - meaning no stopping, less wear and tear, etc. .
Read more about this topic: Warringah Freeway
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