NSW traffic: Guide map for avoiding holiday road trip bottlenecks

The state government has crunched the numbers on the best times to leave home to enjoy a hassle-free roadtrip and what pinch points to avoid. See the best times to leave.

James O'Doherty

2 min read

December 11, 2020 - 10:01AM

NSW

Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.

Holiday-makers are being urged to plan ahead to avoid bottlenecks and travel delays this Christmas as record numbers of motorists head to regional areas amid international COVID-19 travel restrictions.

The state government has identified a number of holiday pinch points where traffic is expected to be banked up, in a bid to help motorists avoid delays.

Historical travel data has suggested the best time to leave for holidays in order to avoid delays. The data predicts some lengthy delays at various times of the day over the festive season.

For people travelling north from Sydney, the best times to leave are between 6am and 9am, or after 3pm. Those windows are also the best for return journeys.

Advice for holiday makers travelling north.

Advice for people heading west.

If you‘re travelling south, you should leave between 6am and 11am, or after 6pm. For return journeys the best time to leave is before 9am or after 3pm.

West-bound motorists should leave Sydney between 6am and 9am, or after 3pm. Those are also the best times to leave when coming back east.

Before Christmas, delays of up to 30 minutes can be expected at Coffs Harbour and Hexham to the north, and Nowra and Batemans Bay to the south.

Commuters travelling through Albion Park could expect to be delayed 20 minutes, while a 15 minute delay can be expected around Jervis Bay.

In the week after Christmas, delays at Nowra and Batemans Bay are expected to reach 45 minutes, while commuters around Ulladulla can be delayed by 30 minutes.

Advice for people travelling north.

How to beat the traffic this Christmas.

Delays at Coffs Harbour after Christmas will ease to 15 minutes, but the Tugun Bypass will see delays of 30 minutes.

The Great Western Highway at Blackheath will see delays of 20 minutes, while Albion Park and Jervis Bay will see delays of 15 minutes.

According to state government predictions, motorists should also avoid travelling northbound on the Princes Highway at Batemans Bay on Boxing Day afternoon — delays of up to an hour are expected between 1pm and 3pm.

A number of major road projects are currently underway which will soon save motorists time on their journeys.

Regional Transport and Roads Minister Paul Toole says major road upgrades will save time for motorists in coming years. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Flavio Brancaleone

“For those travelling north, the $15 billion Pacific Highway duplication from Hexham to the Queensland border is almost complete which will take more than 2.5 hours off your travel time,” Regional Transport and Roads Minister Paul Toole said.

“For those heading down to the south coast, the Princes Highway upgrade is powering ahead with the Albion Park Rail bypass expected to open to traffic by mid-2021, the Berry to Bomaderry upgrade more than 50 per cent complete and major construction underway on the new Nowra Bridge,” he said.

Upgrades to the Great Western Highway are also set to ease congestion, Mr Toole said.