Heavy traffic north and south out of Sydney for great summer exodus

People travelling inland are enjoying better conditions, with predicted delays at Blackheath yet to eventuate, although traffic is heavy from Menangle Park to Campbelltown, and Transport for NSW has advised motorists to factor an extra 20 minutes into their travel times.

Earlier, authorities had expressed cautious optimism about traffic conditions as holidaymakers took to the roads on the annual Sydney exodus.

Historically, traffic starts building from 7am and peaks between 9 and 10am, with December 27 and January 2 the busiest days as travellers often wait until after the festive days to go away on holiday.

But drivers were advised to expect delays of up to 45 minutes at pinch points, as roads are still damaged from this year’s record rain and flooding.

A Transport for NSW spokesman said traffic was also expected to be heavy across the whole holiday period on the Great Western Highway near Blackheath, the Princes Highway near Jervis Bay and Falls Creek, around Coffs Harbour, and on the roads near the Queensland border.

Transport for NSW executive director Roger Weeks said road crews had worked hard to get the state’s major highways back up to a reasonable condition before Christmas, but any further rain could cause them to deteriorate again.

“It only takes a bit of rain for an existing pothole to reopen, or for parts of the network that haven’t quite failed to turn into a pothole,” Weeks said.

Showers are not forecast for Sydney until the weekend.

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