It’s another Friday, which means it’s another massive road conditions update from OwnerDriver for truckies using Australia’s vast road network this weekend and beyond.
There’s plenty of changed conditions coming up on key highways and freeways in New South Wales, while important upgrades are either on the way or completed in Victoria and Western Australia and Far North Queensland is set to see some changes coming soon.
NSW
Warringah Freeway and Sydney Harbour Tunnel face temporary closures
Transport for NSW (Transport) has confirmed this week that traffic conditions will change for heavy vehicles on the Warringah Freeway next week while the Sydney Harbour Tunnel will also experience temporary closures.
Changed traffic conditions for trucks and heavy vehicles will be in place on the Warringah Freeway between 11pm on Friday October 25 to 4.30am on Monday October 28 at two locations – on the Ernest Street northbound off ramp closure, with a detour in place via the Pacific Highway, and on the southbound off ramp closure with a detour via the Falcon Street southbound on ramp.
Until mid-December, from 10am to 6pm on weekdays, the Miller Street southbound on ramp will also be closed, with motorists advised to use either the Ernest or Falcon Street on ramps.
The Sydney Harbour Tunnel will be temporarily closed on these dates:
Southbound
- From 11.30pm, Friday October 25 to 6am, Saturday October 26
- From 10pm, Tuesday October 29 to 5am, Wednesday October 30
- From 10pm, Wednesday October 30 to 5am, Thursday October 31
Northbound
- From 12.30am on Sunday October 27 to 8am
While the Sydney Harbour Bridge will remain open at all times, Transport says it isn’t open to restricted access vehicles (RAVs).
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New England Highway changes
Transport says oversize and overmass (OSOM) vehicles will have changed conditions from October 28 on the New England Highway between Sandy Creek Bridge and south of Bolviia Siding Road at Bolivia.
The work will be carried out between 7am and 6pm from Monday to Friday and from 8am to 1pm on Saturdays, with work expected to be done by late March next year.
Port Newcastle renewable zone locations
Transport has revealed the upgrade of roads from the Port of Newcastle to renewable energy zones for OSOM loads.
Transport has identified 19 locations along a 320km route between the port and Elong Elong, and a section of the Castlereagh Highway towards Gulgong.
The roads will include road widening, relocating road infrastructure, building new turn lanes and extending drainage and culverts.
Contracts are expected to be awarded ahead of the work starting next year.
Big River Way sees traffic changes
Transport says changed traffic conditions are in place for oversize and overmass (OSOM) vehicles on the Big River Way at Clarenza from October 28.
Big River Way will have conditions change between Four Mile Lane and Old Lilypool Road at Clarenza from 7am to 6pm on Monday to Friday, and from 8am to 1pm on Saturdays.
The work is expected to be completed by late April 2025, with OSOM operators wider than 4.6m required to contact the project team before travelling.
Queensland
Kennedy Highway works continue on Barron River bridge
The Queensland department of transport and main roads (TMR) says testing and maintenance works will continue on the Barron River bridge near Kuranda on Monday November 4 until November 29.
The works are part of an ongoing testing and monitoring program to ensure the bridge remains safe and operational while TMR works on a long-term solution for the bridge.
Crews will be on site between 7am and 5pm (including Saturday and Sunday). Changed traffic conditions will be in place during the works, including a single-lane operation of the bridge. Traffic controllers will monitor queue lengths and working hours will be adjusted if required.
From Monday November 18 until Friday November 29, short intermittent full closures of up to 10 minutes will be required between 9am and 3pm.
Variable message signs (VMS) will be in place to inform motorists about the changed traffic conditions. Changes in dates will be posted on the VMS.
Victoria
Bolte Bridge is stronger than ever
Victorian toll operator of Citylink, Linkt, has confirmed strengthening works on the West Gate Freeway overpass connecting to the Bolte Bridge have finished.
Vehicles up to 68.5 tonnes can now use all lanes on the overpass in both directions, heading outbound towards the airport or westbound towards Geelong.
Resilience works continue on iconic freight route
The popular Victorian route of Forrest-Apollo Bay Road has seen major landslip repairs and resilience works begin in a bid to make one of the state’s key inland routes safer.
The works are part of a $255 million state government package to improve the Great Ocean Road and its inland routes.
Repairs have been brought forward for the sake of motorist safety, with a new retaining wall, pavement and barriers to be installed.
“The road provides vital access to the Great Ocean Road and making it safer will help ensure local business owners, workers, visitors and the community can move freely and safely,” member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney says.
“We would like to thank local communities for their patience as we deliver this important project for the future of road.”
WA
Contract awarded for Great Eastern Highway
The Western Australian government has awarded a $23 million contract to Fulton Hogan to deliver three sections of roadworks on the Great Eastern Highway.
The upgrades form part of a $250 million Great Eastern Highway upgrade program that is set to deliver improvements through the Wheatbelt and Goldfields-Esperance regions.
The project also includes upgrades to the intersections of Great Eastern Highway with Smyth Road, Nulla Nulla North Road, Bin Road and Granich Road and the installation of new safety barriers, kerbs, signs and audible edge and wide centre line road markings.
“The Great Eastern Highway upgrades continue to deliver the improvements that will keep locals, tourists and truckies safe on our roads,” WA Senator Glenn Sterle says.
“This $23 million is part of a much larger investment across numerous programs that prove to Australian drivers that we’re invested in their safety.
“Whether it’s rest stops, guardrails, or wider bridges, we’re working with state and local governments across the country to make each drive as safe as possible.”
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