'It felt like I was in jail': Drivers stuck in Sydney Opera House car park for six hours

Yahoo News Australia
Updated

An elderly man said he felt like he was trapped in prison when he was among hundreds reportedly stuck in a car park for hours after attending Sydney’s Vivid light festival.

Mobile phone footage showed dozens of cars unable to exit the Sydney Opera House underground car park during road closures following Sunday night’s event.

The car park’s Macquarie Street exit was reportedly closed from 5pm until midnight due to the festival, blocking at least 60 cars from exiting, Nine News reported.

Dozens of cars trapped in the Sydney Opera House underground car park following Vivid festival road closures. Source: Nine News
At least 60 cars were trapped underground at the Sydney Opera House after attending the Vivid festival following a road closure. Source: Nine News

Those trapped underground included children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, who claim there was insufficient signage to warn them of what to expect.

Graham Hayter, who uses a wheelchair, was among those who had no idea they would spend Sunday night stuck in the Wilson car park.

Sydney is awash with colour and special effects for the Vivid festival of light and music.
All eyes turned to the world-famous Sydney Opera House on Sunday, marking the start of the Vivid festival festival. Source: AAP

“I’ve never been in jail before but I felt like I was in jail for not committing a crime,” Mr Hayter told Nine.

Mum Linda Fuller added: “It was awful. The kids were starting to feel sick.”

Those blocked in said there were no signs forewarning them of the road closures.

Sydney is awash with breathtaking colour and special effects and will be for the next 23 nights, with the lights officially turned on for Vivid Sydney this evening by Premier Gladys Berejiklian. The largest event of light, music and ideas in the Southern Hemisphere transforms the city into a colourful showcase of illumination, sensational sounds and creative thinking from 24 May to 15 June 2019. Ms Berejiklian said Vivid Sydney is a key attraction in the NSW events calendar, boosting visitor numbers to Sydney and the State. “Vivid Sydney is an incredibly important event drawing millions of visitors to the city in May and June each year, many of whom have gone on to explore regional NSW as well,” Ms Berejiklian. Australia's largest event brings Sydney to life, as well as to light, by encouraging locals and visitors to enjoy Sydney's wonderful food, exciting attractions and excellent shopping during winter. Source: AAP Minister for Tourism Stuart Ayres said the benefits of Vivid Sydney were significant for the local economy and jobs. “Vivid Sydney is more than just a captivating light, music and ideas festival. Last year Vivid Sydney, with 2.25 million attendees across the 23 days, we saw a record 185,887 travel packages sold to domestic and international visitors which was a 37 per cent increase on 2017,” Mr Ayres said. All eyes turned to the world-famous Sydney Opera House at 6pm tonight marking the start of the festival for the Lighting of the Sails, created by LA-based artist Andrew Thomas Huang and featuring a hypnotic tribute to Australia’s native plants Huang’s projection will be among more than 50 light installations and projections created by over 100 artists and collaborators from 17 countries. These will be seen across eight Sydney precincts including Barangaroo, Chatswood, Circular Quay, The Rocks, Darling Harbour, Luna Park, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and Taronga Zoo. Where: Sydney, Australia When: 24 May 2019 Credit: Hamilton Lund/Cover Im
Sydney is awash with breathtaking colour and special effects for the Vivid light festival Source: AAP

A sign reportedly appeared at the car park entrance following the incident, that read “No exit from Opera House Park 5pm-midnight, Sat 8 & 9 June 2019,” however commuters claim it was not there earlier.

Wilson Parking has been contacted for comment.

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