Traffic chaos caused by a police operation on Sydney Harbour Bridge during the morning peak hour on Wednesday cost the city economy up to $10 million, a leading economist says.

Traffic builds on the Cahill Expressway on Wednesday morning. Credit:Roger Stonehouse

Analysis by Terry Rawnsley, an expert in regional economics at the consultancy SGS Economics and Planning, shows a major disruption on the bridge at that time of day could be expected to cost the city around 1 per cent of its daily economic output.

“Based on the nature of the traffic impacts, Sydney’s GDP was probably reduced by around $5-10 million as people were prevented or delayed from reaching work,” he said. “Business to business trips and freights would also have been impacted.”

Mr Rawnsley’s estimate is based on previous detailed analysis of the economic costs associated with major city transport disruptions.