NSW Government Under Fire After Accident Causes 12-Hour F3 Freeway Delay

THE NSW Government has come under fire after a truck collision on the state's F3 freeway caused delays to northbound traffic lasting nearly 12 hours.

Roads Minister David Campbell said that "fur will fly" over the delay, with traffic backed up for more than 10km after a flatbed truck collided with the back of a tanker truck carrying 43,000 litres of fuel.

Mr Campbell said that the RTA and emergency personnel at the scene advised him in the early stages of the accident aftermath that clearing the scene would be quicker than opening a contra-flow lane - a procedure which involved directing traffic into a lane on the opposite side of the freeway.

A contra-flow lane was eventually opened, some eight hours after the accident occurred. Mr Campbell admitted that it was a case of too little, too late.

"To me, the commonsense test was not met in the decision-making around when to put in place that contra-flow and there will be some fur flying this morning," Mr Campbell told the Fairfax Radio Network yesterday.

With Hazmat crews working to clear debris and spilled fuel, the Fire Brigade declared the area safe at midnight.

While Mr Campbell will meet with the RTA today to discuss the incident, Opposite Leader Barry O'Farrell described the affair as a "debacle" for the Roads Minister's office, declaring Mr Campbell's staff "incompetent".