UPDATE – 3.30PM
All westbound lanes of the M5 East motorway have reopened after the earlier truck fire, salvage operation and road repairs.
Detours have been lifted but traffic is still heavy so motorists are advised to allow plenty of travel time heading into the afternoon peak.
UPDATE – 1PM
Repairs continue to westbound lanes of the M5 Eeast motorway after the earlier truck fire at Kyeemagh.
Westbound lanes are still closed.
Motorists are being asked to use the D5 detour route via General Holmes Drive, Bestic Street, West Botany Street, Forest Road, Stoney Creek Road and King Georges Road.
Allow extra time on the detour route.
The damaged truck and its trailer were removed around 11am to allow urgently needed repairs to the road surface which are ongoing.
EARLIER
There was traffic chaos throughout St George this morning due to a truck fire on the M5 East Motorway.
All westbound lanes of the M5 East are closed near General Holmes Drive in Kyeemagh due to the incident just before 7am.
There was heavy peak hour traffic in both directions with queues stretched for about two kilometres and there is a large amount of smoke in the area.
The fire has been extinguished, however there is extensive damage to the heavy tow truck and a complex salvage operation is taking place.
Westbound motorists were forced to use the D5 detour route via General Holmes Drive, Bestic Street, West Botany Street, Forest Road, Stoney Creek Road and King Georges Road.
The resulting traffic caused heavy congestion through the suburbs of Kyeemagh, Brighton-Le-Sans, Arncliffe, Bexley, North Bexley, Wolli Creek and Hurstville.
Live Traffic Sydney advises there has been damage to the road surface because of the fire and the D5 detour continues and to expect heavy traffic.
Motorists are advised to allow plenty of extra travel time.
