Urgent essential safety work on Heathcote Road

This work has been triggered by the extreme rainfall events of 2022 that resulted in two landslip incidents on Heathcote Road.

Emergency repairs were completed later in 2022 but the area continues to experience movement and is considered a safety risk, so immediate slope realignment is required to ensure the safety of motorists and cyclists. 

Closures schedule

Monday 7 April to Thursday 17 April:

• each night from 8pm to 5am

8pm Thursday 17 April to 5am Monday 28 April:

• full closure across the Easter and Anzac holiday period

Monday 28 April to mid-June:

• each night Monday to Thursday from 8pm to 5am
• weekends from 8pm Friday to 5am Monday

During the full closure, Heathcote Road will be temporarily reopened in a single direction on the following dates:

• northbound on Easter Monday 21 April from 3pm to 8pm
• southbound on Wednesday 23 April from 3pm to 8pm
• southbound on Thursday 24 April from 3pm to 8pm
• northbound on Sunday 27 April from 12pm to 8pm

Motorists will be detoured via Bangor Bypass during all closures and are advised to expect delays and to allow extra travel time.

Local residents will be able to access their homes under traffic control while access for National Parks and Wildlife Services and emergency services will be maintained during the road closures.

Transport for NSW understands the difficulty these closures will cause for the local community and commuters across Sydney and has explored every option to minimise impacts.

We thank everyone for their patience while we carry out this essential work.

The realignment work is separate to plans announced in late 2024 to upgrade Heathcote Road between Lucas Heights and Engadine with a new westbound overtaking lane along a critical section of the corridor.

The new lane will extend 900 metres from just past the bridge over the Woronora River to connect with the existing overtaking lane, creating a continuous 2.4-kilometre overtaking section.

The project is the result of a $180 millon NSW Government commitment to improve the road between New Illawarra Road and Princes Highway and to build on the gains won with the bridge duplication completed in 2023.

Barbara Wise – Coordinator General, Transport for NSW:

“Heathcote Road is in an environment that has dense vegetation and a cliff adjacent to the road, adding complexity to closures and realignment work.  

“Consideration was given to further patching repairs and insertion of more piles to stabilise the hillside but the work would be extensive, expensive and ultimately result in the closure of Heathcote Road for a longer period of time.

“Cracking caused by water-related ground movement was detected in the westbound lane of Heathcote Road east of the Woronora River at the start of July 2022, forcing a closure of the westbound lane between Princes Highway and New Illawarra Road.  

“The cracking and continued ground movement on Heathcote Road is entirely due to this extreme wet weather and has been replicated elsewhere on Sydney’s road network.  

“Temporary patching and piling was carried out later in 2022 to stabilise the road but permanent realignment work must commence without delay, due to the risk of further slippage. 

“We thank the local community and motorists for their patience while we carry out this essential work.”

Email: media@transport.nsw.gov.au