Sydney has passed its first Sydney CBD traffic test since the partial closure of George Street but drivers have been warned against complacency.
The block between King and Market street closed to traffic on Friday night with the city facing its first peak hour on Monday morning as part of a rolling shutdown for light rail line construction.
"The people of Sydney, you have just been fantastic," NSW Roads Minister Duncan Gay told reporters in Sydney.
"Don't get complacent, don't go back to your bad old ways."
The once-busy stretch was ghostly on Monday morning with road blocks erected and traffic controllers diverting vehicles.
The transition started three weeks ago with buses being redirected from George Street.
"Today has given us a glimpse of our dream to keep Sydney free flowing in the city centre," CBD Co-ordinator General Marg Prendergast said.
"We need to see how we go (this afternoon), but what it's proven to us today is - Sydney has heard us."
Some commuters have been less than impressed with the changes.
Althena, who manages a George Street building less than 50m from the street closure, said it was "infuriating".
"This is really poor," she told a traffic controller on the corner of King and George St.
"I manage the building just there and they weren't meant to stop us from entering. "They told us they wouldn't do this."
The NSW opposition leader says money for the light rail would be better spent on western Sydney's light rail.
"Light rail must be in the right place from the beginning," Luke Foley said.
"This is the right mode of transport in entirely the wrong location."
The next section of George Street, between Market and Park streets, will close on December 3.
Trams are expected to be running on the new rail line from Circular Quay to the eastern suburbs in 2019.
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