Network Disruptions and Emergencies Information

Transport for NSW provides support to the heavy vehicle industry to keep goods and services moving during network disruptions and emergencies. Find all information on this page related to network closures, and disruptions, emergencies and drought relief and recovery. 

Road closures 

When roads are closed Transport for NSW needs to assess the overall impact of network disruptions on our assets and undertake safety reviews and inspections.

Our focus is always to prioritise safety for all customers, effectively assess the damage and re-open the roads that will keep people and freight moving.

For all real time traffic and route information updates, please visit LiveTraffic.

Transport for NSW encourages all freight operators to check the Restricted Access Vehicle interactive map to determine appropriate alternative routes for their combination.

Please visit the State Emergency Service (SES) website for a list of evacuation orders.

This page is updated as required and will provide the most up to date information on network disruptions and emergencies.

Recovery

Transport for NSW works closely with the agriculture sector, freight operators and freight network managers during and following network disruptions and emergencies, to identify support for affected people and communities. 

This can include initiatives to increase efficiency of moving grain and fodder from farm to market. Ensuring the freight sector; road, rail and sea is highly competitive and will drive value back to farm businesses and inevitably the consumer.

One example of this is the NSW Drought Recovery Freight Initiatives Program.

NSW Drought Recovery Freight Initiatives Program 

Transport for NSW implemented the Drought Recovery Freight Initiatives Program in consultation with the agriculture sector, freight operators and freight network managers. 

The Program identified freight access improvement initiatives to increase the efficiency of moving grain and fodder from farm to market. As a result: 

  • Drivers operating under the NSW Grain Harvest Management Scheme (GHMS) are no longer required to carry a hard copy of the Notice
  • Access to the Telematics Analytics Platform (TAP) has been extended to July 2027. TAP provides access to telematics data to better understand the movement of grain in NSW
  • Up to date industry information continues to be provided via the Transport for NSW website
  • Transport for NSW reviewed access provided during the drought on a case-by-case basis and is working with key stakeholders to expand the 30m PBS Level 2 network.

Relevant schemes and programs 

The GHMS promotes the safe and productive movement of grain. It is designed to decrease harvest risk, protect roads and to increase productivity and efficiency for the movement of grain.

The GHMS also seeks to provide a productivity benefit for growers and a higher degree of visibility to road managers of the use of their road assets.

The NSW Livestock Loading Scheme (NSWLLS) was developed in consultation with meat and livestock industry stakeholders, Local Government NSW and Transport for NSW.

The Scheme provides increased mass limits for livestock loads, and includes measures to minimise road pavement wear, protect vulnerable bridges, and reduce the incidence of livestock vehicle rollovers.

Farm Gate Access is a heavy vehicle initiative that introduces conditional area-wide access for Higher Productivity Vehicles transporting grain and livestock on council roads in participating council areas.

This benefits local farmers, businesses, participating councils and the community.

Fixing Country Roads is a $543 million NSW Government program providing targeted infrastructure funding from Restart NSW for regional freight projects.

Regional councils apply to repair and upgrade local and regional roads to improve the movement of freight to key freight hubs and state roads. Applications for truck wash projects can also be made through Fixing Country Roads.

Fixing Country Rail is a $400 million NSW Government program providing targeted infrastructure funding from Restart NSW for regional freight projects.

The program improves capacity, access, efficiency and reliability by upgrading parts of the regional rail network.