Revealed: The traffic hot spots to avoid this Easter long weekend

Hitting the road for a holiday this Easter long weekend? Check our full list of the traffic pinch points to avoid on your journey.

Holiday-makers eager to escape to the coast and country can expect to sit in traffic for up to 45 minutes on NSW’s most popular roads this Easter long weekend and school holidays.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal all the traffic hot spots during the Easter period from April 15 to 18 and until the end of the school holidays on April 26.

It comes as the NRMA predicted that petrol prices would continue to fall over Easter as world oil prices cool.

In the north coast, motorists can expect to be sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic for 45 minutes this long weekend on the M1 near Calga and Wahroonga and when visiting Hexham near Newcastle.

Nelson Bay, Ghinni Ghinni, Coffs Harbour, and the Tugun Bypass might be the better options with delays of about 15 minutes at each spot.

The spots to avoid on the south coast this Easter and Autumn school holiday period. Picture: Supplied

Hexham will see delays of up to 45 minutes. Picture: Supplied

After the weekend rush, Hexham will still see 20-minute delays until April 26, but traffic will ease in the other tourist spots nearby.

Data from Transport for NSW showed that the best time to travel north this weekend was before 7am or after 4pm and the best to head back was before 11am or after 6pm.

Regional Transport and Roads Minister Sam Farraway said drivers would need to be patient with NSW’s rain-battered road network.

“Make sure you plan ahead and check for the latest updates before you leave as many of our roads are still being repaired which impacts travel times and conditions can change rapidly. Please allow plenty of extra travel time and keep up to date with weather conditions,” he said.

“We know traditionally the key routes in and out of Sydney including the M1 Pacific Motorway, Great Western Highway, Hume Motorway and Princes Hwy and the Hume, Princes, Kings, Great Western and Pacific highways in the regions can experience heavy traffic and delays.”

Blackheath is set to be a busy spot for the entire holiday period. Picture: Supplied

Pot holes and road closures are also set to add misery to travel routes this Easter. Picture: Supplied

Mr Farraway said workers were carrying out repairs “around the clock” but changed traffic conditions will be in place on some routes including Bruxner Highway, Moss Vale Road and Waterfall Way.

“We’re also reminding travellers they can skip the traffic if they’re thinking about a trip to the Blue Mountains, Central Coast or Illawarra with all modes of transport on the Opal network free for 12 days starting early Friday 14 April 2022,” he said.

Travellers with plans for the south coast should avoid Bomaderry, Nowra, and Pheasants Nest between April 15 and 18 because delays are expected to hit a painful 45 minutes.

Ulladulla and the Princes Highway at Batemans Bay will see hold-ups of about 20 minutes while Braidwood, Kings Highway and Milton will have 15-minute delays.

Transport for NSW advised people to leave before 9am or after 7pm when heading south for Easter and leaving before 10am or after 7pm when returning home.

SNRMA spokesperson Peter Khoury said petrol prices are expected to fall over the break. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

For the rest of the school holidays, Bomaderry will remain popular with a 45-minute wait expected but Jervis Bay, Ulladulla and Nowra will ease to 15-minute waits.

In the state’s west, Blackheath will see up to 45-minute delays over the Easter long weekend and a trip there during the rest of holidays will force motorists to sit in traffic for 30 minutes.

For travellers looking to avoid the pinch points, its best to travel before 8am or after 7pm this weekend and on the way home before 10am or after 9pm.

NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury said motorists travelling over Easter could expect relief at the bowser.

He called on companies to pass on the savings to their customers.

“Families are heading away for Easter and the NRMA is committed to ensuring they pay a fair price at the bowser – we have been paying record prices in 2022 and it’s well passed the time for relief with these falls ideally timed for the Easter break,” Mr Khoury said.

“Every dollar saved at the bowser can be spent on holidays in regional areas that desperately need that support.”