This weekend, next weekend, and possibly the weekend after, the Sydney Harbour Bridge is closed for maintenance. The road surface is being removed right back to the original concrete deck, new waterproofing is being applied to protect the steel on which the concrete rests, and then new surfacing is being applied.

There are normally 14 traffic lanes available for the Harbour crossing: 10 on the Bridge and 4 in the Harbour Tunnel. There is a bus lane available each way on the Bridge during the works which (like all bus lanes here) is available for buses, taxis, and motorcycles. All other traffic has to use the 4 lanes of the Tunnel, or take a considerable diversion.

Despite a load of advance publicity, many people tried to use their normal route, and there were big tail-backs. See this report.

The great public have, of course, been complaining about the inconvenience. But I feel it is probably better to do the maintenance in a planned way rather than wait until it is unsafe and have an emergency closure. Compare and contrast the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Hammersmith Flyover.

Not related to the closure, but a fun picture I took from the Harbour Bridge in 2010 showing a taxi breaking down in just about the worst place possible. The traffic was bedlam behind this.

Photo taken from the footpath around here - http://g.co/maps/t5w4w

So at least it is not just the British driver who is completely stupid then.

There are idiots everywhere. We have our GPS-followers too, including one who had to be rescued in the desert after following GPS instructions down some disused track until he ran out of petrol.

I was over in North Sydney last weekend, 13,14,15 Jan. Yes the SHB was closed for resurfacing works, so the Sydney Harbour Tunnel was the only harbour corssing. Closure was well advertised and most drivers seemed to stay away from the area. I stayed at Rydges Hotel, North Sydney and could see the Warringah Freeway approaches to the bridge and tunnel, heavy traffic yes, but could have been worse, we got across ok. As has been said another couple of weekend closures on the way, such is life in the Sydney road network.

Bridge closures..Reminds me of the times I spent in the early 70's as a Special Traffic Patrol Police motorcycle officer escorting the Dept of Main Roads 'Flap trucks; (for tidal flow across the bridge), but that is another story.

Just how old is the old girl. I've got fond memories of crossing it in the 50's .So that would make it at least 60 year old.

The bridge was formally opened on Saturday, 19 March 1932. There were some low-key 80th birthday celebrations.