Road closures force drivers to revise Christmas travel plans
As many make their final preparations for holiday road trips, traffic authorities have issued warnings to stay away from a multiple roads and highways, as bushfires continue to burn.
Traffic authorities have issued warnings to “stay away” from a number of roads, highways and national parks in NSW, as dozens of bushfires continue to burn around the state.
As part of the State of Emergency declared by the NSW Premier on Thursday, and in response to Saturday’s predicted catastrophic fire weather, all national parks, including tracks, trails and campgrounds in Greater Sydney, will also be closed from Saturday until further notice.
Drivers are being urged to reconsider their travel plans in affected areas including the Greater Hunter and central ranges which will experience extreme fire danger.
“Do not put yourself in harm’s way tomorrow,” Rural Fire Service deputy commissioner Rob Rogers said on Friday afternoon.
“Do not put yourself near an isolated bush area. If your home is directly on the bush and it’s not got a huge break you should think about relocating.”
Authorities are asking people to avoid holiday travel on Saturday because they don’t want motorists stranded on major highways when firefronts hit.
NSW Police deputy commissioner Gary Worboys says motorists may be asked to turn around if they try to enter dangerous areas.
“People should consider staying at home tomorrow (Saturday) and make their travel arrangements for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday,” he told reporters. “They still have time in terms of Christmas Day. Tomorrow will be a difficult day.”
Fire-related hazards or major events for drivers to look out for currently stretch across the state.
In the Southern Highlands at Colo Vale to Couridjah, Wilson Drive and West Parade has been closed between Church Ave and the Bargo River due to bushfires in the area. Also closed is Remembrance Drive, the Old Hume Highway and Bargo River Road.
Live Traffic NSW advised that many local roads in the area have also been closed, and motorists are urged to avoid the area. Nearby, the road from High Range to Taralga has also been closed due to fires.
Wombeyan Caves Road and Taralga Road between High Range Lane and Hillas Street has also been closed in both directions. Residents may be permitted access at the discretion of emergency services.
Three separate roads in the Southern Tablelands leading to the NSW South Coast remain closed today due to ongoing bushfire activity in the area. Motorists travelling between Jerrawangala to Charleyong should be advised that Braidwood Road and Nerriga Road between Turpentine Road and Stewarts Crossing Road has been closed in both directions. Motorists are urged to avoid the area.
Nearby, the Kings Highway between Braidwood and Nelligen between Narranghi Road and Reid Street has also been closed until further notice. Drivers can take the Snowy Mountains Highway though Bega and Cooma as alternative routes.
Also nearby, Araluen Road is not impacted by fires, but has been closed, after being deemed unsafe, and drivers should be aware that it is not a suitable path for a detour.
Meanwhile, remote campgrounds in Royal National Park (North Era Campground, Uloola Falls Campground) and all sites in Heathcote National Park are now shut.
National Parks and Wildlife Service Greater Sydney Branch Director Deon van Rensburg said campgrounds at Bents Basin State Conservation Area and Cattai National Park will also be closed as will The Basin in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
“Only a limited number of precincts in the Sydney Harbour National Park will remain open and people should check National Parks alerts list before heading out,” Mr van Rensburg said.
ROAD CLOSURES
In Sydney’s north
• North Head Scenic Drive will be closed from the roundabout at the Q Station – (access to Q Station will be open).
• West Head Road, Ku-ring-gai Chase NP
In Sydney’s south, the following roads will be closed until further notice:
• Cape Banks Road, Kamay Botany Bay NP
• Garie Beach Road, Royal NP
• Wattamolla Road, Royal NP
• Cape Solander Drive, Kamay Botany Bay NP
Central west/Blue Mountains
• The Castlereagh Highway is closed between Blackmans Flat and Cullen Bullen due to a bushfire
• Kurrajong Heights to Lithgow: Bells Line of Road and Chifley Road are closed in both directions
• Bell to Mount Victoria: Darling Causeway is closed in both directions
• Hampton to Oberon via Jenolan: Jenolan Caves Road is closed in both directions
• Trains are not running between Katoomba and Lithgow due to a bushfire near the rail line at Mount Victoria. Buses will be running to replace train services however anyone travelling via public transport should check the NSW Transport website for updates on timetable changes.
North
• The Oxley Highway is closed again between Yarrowitch and Mount Seaview due to a bushfire
• Nymboida to Billys Creek: Armidale Road is closed in both directions
• Jackadgery to Glen Elgin: the Gwydir Highway is closed in both directions
• Tabulam to Lower Duck Creek: Hootens Road and Paddys Flat Road are closed in both directions
• Pillar Valley: Wooli Road is closed at Lloyds Road
Hunter/Central Coast
• Putty to Milbrodale: Putty Road is closed in both directions
• Wollombi to Broke: Paynes Crossing Road/Wollombi Road is closed
• Wisemans Ferry to Bucketty: St Albans Road/Wollombi Road/Great Northern Road are closed
• Wollombi to Laguna: Yango Creek Road is closed in both directions
• Paynes Crossing: Stockyard Creek Road is closed in both directions
• Wisemans Ferry to St Albans: Settlers Road is closed in both directions
Additional road closures are very likely so check with Live Traffic NSW before travelling through any National Park and generally avoid driving in any bushland.
A full list of the closures is also available at National Parks and Wildlife Service: Alerts for NSW National Parks.
All visitors to national parks are a are reminded that a Total Fire Ban has been declared and ALL forms of flame-based cooking and BBQ’s are not permitted. For details on what is permissible visit NSW Rural Fire Service: Total Fire Ban rules.
For update-to-date fire information visit RFS NSW Rural Fire Service: Fires Near Me
Originally published as Road closures force drivers to revise Christmas travel plans
Sydney serial protest princess ‘fired for activism’
A serial protester who wears Disney princess dresses at pro-Palestinian rallies to make children feel more comfortable taking part says she’s been sacked from her job.
Everest winner Nature Strip jumps at chance for new job
One of racing’s most successful thoroughbreds, Nature Strip, has left the sprinting behind to take on a new journey which could even take him to the Olympic Games.
Demerit point task force unearths Sydney’s worst driver
Authorities believe the dodgy driver, who left the country after racking up 1606 demerits in just four months, used counterfeit French documents to get a provisional licence.