With severe weather expected to hit Sydney and families returning home from school holidays plus a massive crowd headed to and from the Bathurst 1000, Transport for NSW is urging road users to plan ahead and drive carefully this weekend.
Deputy Premier, Minister for Police, and Member for Bathurst Paul Toole said motorists need to take “extreme caution” and allow extra travel time if they are planning to travel in dangerous weather conditions.
“These three events over the weekend could create a perfect storm of delays and disruption on our roads, so our message to motorists is simple – plan ahead, reduce your speed, increase visibility by switching on your headlights, and remember your vehicle takes longer to stop when the roads are wet,” Mr. Toole said in a statement.
“For returning holidaymakers, please do not leave your travel to the last minute. Make sure you stay up-to-date with road closures by checking Live Traffic NSW and keeping across any weather warnings from the Bureau of Meteorology and the State Emergency Service.
“And remember, if it’s flooded, forget it. Motorists should follow the direction of emergency services and take extreme care as conditions can change quickly.”
Sam Farraway, the Minister for Regional Transport and Roads said motorists should expect heavy traffic on the Great Western Highway, Mitchell Highway, Mid-Western Highway, M4 Motorway, Bells Line of Road, and Castlereagh Highway before and after Bathurst 1000 as some 200,000 visitors are expected to descend on Mount Panorama across the weekend.
“The Bathurst 1000 is an exciting event for our local community, but I’m reminding visitors to be safe during this event,” Mr. Farraway said.
“One life lost on our regional roads is one too many, so it is up to us to make sure we drive to conditions, especially with increased traffic volumes in and around Bathurst.
“There will be delays as people arrive and depart Bathurst for the big race, so have some patience and ensure you follow the directions of traffic control.”
