Business owners, motorists rally against eight-month Alfred St off-ramp closure on Warringah Freeway

Residents and business owners have slammed plans to close one of the busiest highway off-ramps in Sydney’s north as part of major roadworks set to commence in the lead-up to the Christmas holidays.

Residents and shop owners have slammed plans to close one of the busiest highway off-ramps in Sydney’s north as part of lengthy roadworks set to commence in the lead-up to the Christmas holidays.

The Warringah Freeway southbound off ramp to Alfred St is set to be closed for eight months, from November 22 to mid-2025, as part of Transport for NSW plans to accommodate works on the Warringah Freeway upgrade project.

The turn-off is the main access road for southbound motorists to access North Sydney and Kirribilli, with drivers also using the ramp to travel to adjoining suburbs such as Kurraba Point and Cremorne.

The off-ramp is also the last turn-off before the Sydney Harbour Bridge, meaning motorists will have to use alternative routes like Military Rd and the Pacific Hwy to access North Sydney.

Glen Cuyer, who chairs a local community group, said he had been inundated with concerns from residents about the impending closure.

The ramp is due to be closed from November 22.

“It’s going to make commute and travel times a lot longer for people and will put more cars on Military Rd, which is already one of the worst roads in Sydney.

“There hasn’t been a lot of warning and for anyone travelling on the freeway who isn’t aware of the closure, they’ll be forced to keep on driving over the bridge.

“It’s going to be mayhem.”

The ramp that will close imminently.

Neutral Bay resident Chris Boseley, who uses the Alfred St ramp to access his home, said the closure could also exacerbate traffic on back streets as motorists try to make detours through areas including North Sydney and Neutral Bay.

Tony Morgan, the owner of Morgan’s Kirribilli and San Antonio Sourdough Bakery, said the November commencement date for the closure “couldn't be worse” timing for businesses.

“Christmas and New Year’s is our busiest period and the timing is terrible,” he said.

“Why not do it in winter when the shops are quieter?

Roadworks on the freeway upgrade.

“If people can’t easily drive here, they’ll go somewhere else, and it’s also going to make deliveries very difficult.”

Transport for NSW said the closure was required to enable construction works on a future bus lane, underpass and road viaduct for the Warringah Freeway upgrade.

A spokeswoman for the department said the closure would “speed up” construction works”, thereby “reducing construction impacts on local communities”.

“The temporary closure will remove the need for up to 90 nights of noisy work, by allowing for quicker delivery of required infrastructure and making it possible to safely complete these works during the day,” she said.

”It will also remove the need for 10 weekends of extended work hours.

“Transport is reaching out to residents (so that) appropriate mitigation measures can be developed for those that will be most impacted.

“We acknowledge this closure will affect residents and visitors to Kirribilli, North Sydney and Neutral Bay by adding time to their journeys, due to the detours. We apologise for this inconvenience and thank them for their patience.”

The closure is due to commence from 10pm on November 22 and will last until mid-2025.

Transport for NSW said “toll free access for general motorists to North Sydney, Kirribilli and Neutral Bay will be maintained” via the alternative transport route on the Pacific Hwy.