Transport for NSW is urging motorists to take extra care when planning their journeys this holiday season due to the number of uncontained fires and increased traffic volumes along the east coast.
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Ahead of the summer holiday break, the transport authority has revealed key traffic problem areas in NSW and is encouraging motorists to visit NSW Rural Fire Service Fires Near Me and Live Traffic NSW websites or download the smartphone apps for the most up-to-date information about road conditions.
Anna Andrews, director for Transport NSW Northern region, motorists can expect the busiest time of the year as Christmas approaches with hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers heading to their favourite destinations up and down the NSW coasts.
"Based on last year's traffic data, we predict the weekend before Christmas and the weekend before New Year will be the busiest times to travel along the east coast of NSW," she said.
Woodburn and Hexham in the north have been identified as significant traffic hotspots over this period, with up to 60 minute delays in these locations.
There is an alternative route which avoids the significant delays at Woodburn. Motorists can travel between Ballina and Grafton via the Bruxner Highway and Summerland Way.
To reduce impact to holiday traffic, no road work will be carried out on the Pacific Highway from Friday, December 20 and Monday, January 6. This also includes no work on the Woolgoolga to Ballina Pacific Highway upgrade.
There have been a large number of changes to the Pacific Highway between Woolgoolga and Ballina since this time last year. By Christmas there will be an additional 10.5 kilometres of four lane divided highway open to traffic.
Most road work and speed restrictions will be lifted during the Christmas season to make travel easier, except for emergency, maintenance and safety work during this time.
Electronic message signs will be on the highway providing real time travel advice on the road.
Worst days to travel on NSW roads
- Wednesday, December 18 when NSW public schools break up
- Friday, December 20th, Saturday, December 21, Monday, December 23 and Friday, December 27
- Thursday, January 2
Coastal areas where most delays are expected prior to Christmas
- Nowra on the south coast - delays of between 20-45 minutes are expected
- Hexham north of Newcastle - delays of 40-45 minutes expected
- Woodburn on the far north coast - delays expected in both directions - up to 75 minutes if northbound
Delays expected between Christmas and New Year
- Bateman's Bay on the south coast -delays in all directions up to 75 minutes
- Nowra and Jervis Bay will be problem spots as well
- Woodburn again on the North coast will be an issue with delays up to 75 minutes
- Hexham will also have major delays
Delays expected following New Years
- Jervis Bay on the south coast - delays up to 75 minutes
- Nowra and Bateman's Bay - delays up to 30 minutes
- Woodburn on the north coast - delays up to 75 minutes
- Hexham and Salt Ash - delays up to 30 mins
