Bushfires shut down major highway linking Sydney to Canberra

As highways have reopened fireys have continued to warn about the dangers of non-essential travel as smoke continues to make visibility poor.

With a fresh state of emergency declared in NSW, motorists have been advised to avoid travelling this weekend.

The NSW RFS have been blunt about the dangers, warning that it’s “safer not to be on the roads”.

As conditions have somewhat eased this evening, the Princes Highway between Jervis Bay Road and Lake Conjola Entrance Road has been reopened, as well as the Hume Motorway between Narellan Rd and Illawarra Highway.

It’s dangerous on roads. Smoke reducing visibility, drive to conditions. It’s safer not to be on the roads - avoid driving in fire affected areas if you can. The speed limit is 40km/h around emergency vehicles. For updates on road closures check @LiveTrafficNSW #nswrfs #nswfires pic.twitter.com/8AuYGUBGqd

— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) December 21, 2019

Speaking on Saturday afternoon, Karen Webb from NSW Police said residents had largely listened to calls to remain off the road.

“What we have observed so far, they are getting the messages to limit travel to only essential travel,” she said.

“There has been some park ups for some vehicles coming on the Great Western Highway,

traffic patrol trying to work with them to move them away from the affected area, the other roads are seeing lighter traffic flow.”

Many of the roads out of Sydney are closed.

Earlier today, RFS Commissioner, Shane Fitzsimmons, warned the Hume Highway could be blocked off.

“There is the potential for impact on the Hume Highway, the main motorway heading between Sydney and Canberra. There is every chance the road will be impacted today, and the potential for that to be closed,” the RFS Commissioner said this morning.

Follow our live coverage of the bushfire crisis.

MAJOR ROADS CLOSED:

• Hume Hwy closed in both directions between Narellan Rd and the Illawarra Hwy

• Picton Rd closed westbound

• Princes Hwy closed in both directions between The Wool Rd and Lake Conjola Entrance Rd

• The Great Western Hwy: closed in both directions between Mount Victoria and Hartley, and between Bathurst Rd and Jenolan Caves Rd

• Megalong Valley: Megalong Rd at Shipley Rd

• Bowen Mountain: Bowen Mountain Rd at Westbury Rd

• Bell to Mount Victoria: Darling Causeway between Bells Line of Road and Station St

• Kurrajong Heights to Bell: Bells Line of Rd between Val Wheeler Dr and Darling Causeway

• Braidwood to Nelligen: Kings Hwy between Narranghi Rd and Reid St

RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons warned this morning that the major highway could be closed today. Picture: Live Traffic NSW. Source: Supplied.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese also had some advice for holiday-makers, after a briefing yesterday afternoon.

“The Federal Department said to, particularly, if they could, give a warning to those people who may well be holiday-makers going to places like the Shoalhaven coast, because it will be a circumstance whereby we do not want people driving into dangerous areas,” he said.

Multiple other roads remain closed throughout the state today in the face of extreme fire risks.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says residents need to follow the advice of authorities over the next week, with extra diversions and road closures to be installed, and revise their Christmas plans.

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The NSW Rural Fire Service is hoping to just get through Saturday without lives being lost, as they prepare to battle more than 100 fires in extreme conditions.

Today, there are 19 fire-related hazards or major events for drivers to look out for, stretching across the state.

Numerous roads are closed around NSW due to bushfire activity. Picture: Live Traffic NSW. Source: Supplied

WESTERN SYDNEY

Darling Causeway between Bells Line of Rd and Station St has been closed in both directions due to the ongoing bushfires. Bells Line of Rd between Val Wheeler Dr and Darling Causeway is also closed.

The Great Western Highway has reopened westbound but remains closed eastbound between Reserve Rd and Barton Ave. According to Live Traffic, there is also no access to Skyline Rd.

Residents may be permitted access, at the discretion of emergency services from Kurrajong Heights.

Bowen Mountain Rd is also closed in both directions at Westbury Rd. Motorists are advised to avoid the area.

The Blue Mountains Botanic Gardens is also closed.

NORTH SYDNEY

Ku-ring-gai National Park remains closed, as well as Ku-ring-gai Chase Rd and Bobbin Head Rd. Motorists have been advised to stay away from the area.

SYDNEY’S SOUTH

All roads into the Royal National Park will remain closed until further notice, including entry points at Farnell Ave at Loftus and McKell Ave at Waterfall.

Access to the park was cut off just after 10:30pm Friday night.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area completely.

REGIONAL NSW

Remembrance Drive/Old Hume Highway is closed in both directions between Hume Motorway and Bridge St.

Many local roads are also closed including Bargo River Rd.

While the Princes Hwy remains open, there is still no access to Comberton Grange Road.

Due to a change in forecast winds, back burning on the Great Western Hwy between Mt Victoria and Lithgow will not go ahead. The Great Western Hwy will remain open overnight, unless there is a change in fire conditions. For the latest in road closures visit @LiveTrafficNSW #nswrfs

— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) December 20, 2019

Braidwood Rd/Nerriga Rd between Turpentine Rd and Stewarts Crossing Rd is also blocked off, along with Wilson Dr/West Pde between Stella St and Bargo River Rd.

Araluen Rd is closed between Araluen and Marouya, with motorists being redirected to use the Snowy Mountains Hwy via Bega and Cooma as alternative routes.

Wombeyan Caves Rd/ Taralga Rd between High Range Lane and Hillas St is to remain closed until further notice. However, residents may be permitted to access at the discretion of emergency services.

On roads that remain open, Live Traffic NSW advises that thick smoke may affect visibility.

Motorists are encouraged to avoid non-essential travel but if necessary, anyone who needs to be on the roads and cannot delay their trip, should keep checking the latest conditions and be prepared for road closures at short notice.

TRAINS

Some services on the Blue Mountains train line have also been temporarily suspended in both directions between Katoomba, Lithgow and Bathurst.

Meanwhile, replacement buses are no longer able to operate in both directions due to road closures.

NSW TrainLink West recommend delaying travel for those heading west of Katoomba.