Drivers warned: ‘You don’t want to on roads today’
Holiday commuters have been warned to avoid travel altogether or otherwise brace for delays and road closures as catastrophic fire conditions wreak havoc across the state today.
NSW
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Holiday commuters have been warned to avoid travel altogether or otherwise brace for delays and road closures as catastrophic fire conditions wreak havoc across the state today.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has warned people to “avoid the Princes Highway altogether” as there are “active fires which could become very dangerous in a short amount of time”.
The Greater Sydney, Illawarra, Shoalhaven and southern ranges regions are all facing catastrophic fire danger today with soaring mid-40s temperatures fuelling blazes and creating dangerous travel conditions.
Part of the Princes Highway on the South Coast will be closed near Ulladulla, and the RFS said there’s a “fair chance” the Hume Highway will also be affected.
The Great Western Highway is also now closed in both directions between Barton Av in Wallerawang and Reserve Rd in Marangaroo near Lithgow due to a nearby bushfire, with the Transport Maintenance Centre advising motorists other roads were forecast to close.
“The highway is shut at Marrangaroo, we’re asking motorists to avoid the Lithgow area. Motorists shouldn’t be travelling in NSW at all today, with the weather forecast and fire danger rating,” said TMC spokesperson Nicquie Moy.
“We don’t know when the Great Western Highway will reopen at this stage, as currently it isn’t safe, but we advise people to delay their trips if they can.”
The Rural Fire Service is mainly concerned about the Gospers Mountain mega-fire northwest of Sydney and the Green Wattle Creek blaze southwest of Sydney.
They are also tackling fires in the state’s south in the Shoalhaven area, between Batemans Bay, Ulladulla, and Sussex Inlet Road area.
The Premier was speaking with RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons this morning ahead of catastrophic fire conditions on Saturday.
“We don’t want anyone to unintentionally get themselves in harm’s way,” Ms Berejiklian said.
She also warned about travelling Bells Line of Road and throughout the upper and lower Hunter regions.
RFS Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers urged motorists to reconsider travel plans today.
“A lot of the discussions we’ve had with the community is about really thinking about where you’re going to be in the heat of today,” Mr Rogers said.
“You don’t want to be on one of those roads today... go down tomorrow.”
Tourism and Transport Forum chief executive officer Margy Osmond said that safety and common sense should always be holidaymakers’ top priority.
“The most important thing today is safety. Travellers should check with the RFS and holiday operators before they leave or cancel their holiday just to see what conditions are like. Regardless of if your destination is under catastrophic conditions or not, check before you do anything else,” Ms Osmond said.
“For regional communities this will be a double whammy, first facing bushfires and then losing their biggest chunk of revenue during the school holidays, but safety has to be our number one consideration. No one should be heading south at this point, by all indications from the RFS.”
NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys urged people not to be “selfish and inconsiderate” by planning to travel through fire danger zones.
“Wait another day and you will find your travel will be much safer for your family and for emergency services,” Mr Worboys said.
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole encouraged motorists to keep track of conditions and closures via the Live Traffic NSW website and smartphone app.
“We want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable break with family and friends but it’s important to plan ahead. This app is a quick way to easily check which route is the best and safest route to take,” Mr Toole said.
“While sometimes choosing an alternate route could mean adding some time to the trip, it’s more important to get to your destination safely rather than a few minutes earlier.”
Several major roads and highways are closed, including the Princes Highway near Sussex Inlet and the Currowan fire, and the Old Hume Highway between Yanderra and Picton.