Newcastle and surrounds - traffic impacts

Operators of oversize and/or over mass vehicles with a ground contact wider than 3.2 metres or with overall width wider than 4.5 metres are advised to contact project teams at least one day ahead of a proposed movement. Significant delays can occur through failure to make contact prior to travel.

Please note vehicles travelling under a permit must not travel off the approved route listed in the permit unless an updated permit is obtained from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator. 

Project contacts for OSOM operators 

For Hexham project phone - 1800 515 141. The project operates on UHF channel 45.

For M1 to Raymond Terrace project phone - 0423 323 946

For Rankin Park to Jesmond project phone - 1800 818 433. The project operates on UHF channel 57 at the Jesmond Interchange and UHF Channel 52 at the Southern Interchange.

Over Size Over Mass operations on Sunday 26 and Monday 27 October:

• will not be permitted to travel on the southbound lanes of the Newcastle Inner City Bypass between University Drive and Newcastle Road
• with a ground contact wider than 3.2m or with overall width wider than 4.5m and under 5.9m height clearance are permitted to travel on Newcastle Road, Jesmond.

Over Size Over Mass operations between Tuesday 28 and Thursday 30 October with a ground contact wider than 3.2m or with overall width wider than 4.5m must contact the project team at least one day ahead of movement on 1800 818 433. Note, significant wait times may occur to make accommodations for safe travel through the site. 

Changed traffic conditions will be in place to progress work for the Hexham Straight Widening project.

• Traffic will be in a contraflow arrangement on the southbound lanes of Maitland Road and a temporary reduced speed of 40km/h will be in place from Shamrock Street to Old Maitland Road (west) on Sunday 26 October and Monday 27 October. There will be a temporary restriction to the right-hand turn lane into Old Maitland Road (east) to allow asphalt work to be complete. Motorists will continue travelling northbound to detour north under Hexham bridge via Maitland Road.
• Traffic will be in a contraflow arrangement on the northbound lanes of Maitland Road and a temporary reduced speed of 40km/h will be in place from Shamrock Street to Old Maitland Road (west) on Tuesday 28 October.
• There will be a ‘blackout’ to traffic lights on Maitland Road, located at intersection of Shamrock Street and Maitland Road on Wednesday 29 October.
• Traffic will be in a contraflow arrangement on the northbound lanes of Maitland Road and a temporary reduced speed of 40km/h will be in place from Old Maitland Road (east) to north of the Oak Precinct on Thursday 30 October.  There will be a ‘blackout’ to traffic lights on Maitland Road, located at intersection of Old Maitland Road (east) and Maitland Road on Thursday 30 October.
• Lane closures and a temporary reduced speed of 40km/h will be in place on the northbound and southbound lanes of Maitland Road, located from Old Maitland Road (west) to north of the Oak Precinct from Sunday 19 October to Thursday 30 October.
• Lane closures and a temporary reduced speed of 40km/h will be in place on both northbound and southbound lanes of Maitland Road, located from Newcastle Inner City Bypass to north of Old Maitland Road on Tuesday 28 October and Wednesday 29 October. There will be a ‘blackout’ to traffic lights on Maitland Road, located at intersection of Newcastle Inner City Bypass and Maitland Road on Wednesday 29 October.
• Lane closures and a temporary reduced speed of 40km/h will be in place on the northbound and southbound lanes of Maitland Road, located Sparke Street to Shamrock Street on Wednesday 29 October and Thursday 30 October.
   

A temporary speed limit of 60km/h will remain in place through the project work zone during ongoing day work, with a reduction to 40km/h during night work.

Major work will continue from 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday, out of hours from 7pm to 7am Sunday to Thursday and Saturday from 8am to 1pm.

We remind all drivers to travel safely through construction zones and adhere to the posted speed limits.

Motorists are advised of changed traffic conditions from Monday 27 until Friday 31 October while we undertake construction work for the M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace.  

The following locations will have lane closures with intermittent stoppages and temporary speed reductions to 40km/h.

From 7pm to 5am, on the nights of Monday 27 until Friday 31 October:

• M1 Pacific Motorway at Beresfield and Black Hill
• John Renshaw Drive at Beresfield
• New England Highway at Tarro
• Pacific Highway at Tomago and Heatherbrae

From 7am to 5pm, Monday 27 until Friday 31 October:

• Lenaghans Drive at Black Hill
• Old Punt Road near Pacific Highway at Tomago
• New England Highway eastbound at Tarro

Operators of oversize and/or overmass vehicles with a ground contact wider than 3.2 metres or with overall width wider than 4.5 metres are advised to contact the project team on 0423 323 946 at least one day ahead of proposed movement. Significant delays can occur through failure to make contact prior to travel.

Please note vehicles travelling under a permit must not travel off the approved route listed in the permit unless an updated permit is obtained from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.

Major construction work will continue across the project from 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday and Saturday from 8am to 5pm, as well as out of hours from 7pm to 5am Monday to Friday nights.

Changed traffic conditions remain in place as part of the Rankin Park to Jesmond project.

Work is being carried out to lay the final layer of asphalt and adding line marking on the southbound off ramp of the Newcastle Inner City Bypass and the adjacent section of Newcastle Road, east of the signalised intersection.  

Work will be carried out at night from 7pm to 5am, from Sunday 26 October for up to five nights, weather permitting. 

• From Sunday 26 October, for up to two nights, the southbound lanes on the Newcastle Inner City Bypass will be closed between University Drive and Newcastle Road:
  • Light vehicles will be detoured west along University Drive and then south via Blue Gum Road to rejoin Newcastle Road.
  • Heavy vehicles will be detoured east along University Drive and then Lorna Street, continuing south via Edith Street and Lambton Road to rejoin Newcastle Road.
• From Tuesday 28 October, for up to three nights, motorists travelling in both directions on Newcastle Road will be directed through a contraflow arrangement reduced to one lane each way. 

Motorists are advised to drive to the conditions, follow the directions of signs and traffic control, and encouraged to use alternate routes where possible. This work may add up to ten minutes to journey times.  

Over Size Over Mass operations on Sunday 26 and Monday 27 October:

• will not be permitted to travel on the southbound lanes of the Newcastle Inner City Bypass between University Drive and Newcastle Road
•  with a ground contact wider than 3.2m or with overall width wider than 4.5m and under 5.9m height clearance are permitted to travel on Newcastle Road, Jesmond.

Over Size Over Mass operations between Tuesday 28 and Thursday 30 October with a ground contact wider than 3.2m or with overall width wider than 4.5m must contact the project team at least one day ahead of movement on 1800 818 433. Note, significant wait times may occur to make accommodations for safe travel through the site. OSOM operators are advised the project operates on UHF channel 57 at the northern interchange, Jesmond.

Please note vehicles travelling under a permit must not travel off the approved route listed in the permit unless an updated permit is obtained from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator. 

Major work will continue between 7am and 6pm, Monday to Friday and Saturday from 8am to 5pm, with out of hours between 6pm and 7am Sunday to Thursday, as required. 

Motorists are advised to drive to the conditions and follow the directions of signs and traffic control.

We remind all drivers to travel safely through construction zones and adhere to the posted speed limits.

For more information on the Rankin Park to Jesmond Project visit​​​​​ Rankin Park to Jesmond - Newcastle Inner City Bypass

Transport for NSW undertakes maintenance on Hexham bridge.

Monthly maintenance on the southbound Hexham Bridge is generally carried out on the second Thursday of every month.

Bi-annual maintenance work on the bridge which includes inspecting, testing, and servicing the lift span systems, as well as general routine bridge maintenance. The work is carried out at night to minimise disruption to traffic.

The bridge opens for recreational commuting access about 120 times are year. More information about the southbound Hexham Bridge opening times and bookings can be found on the Bridge opening times page Hexham Bridge openings.

• Port of Newcastle to Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone - intersection upgrades June to December 2025. View traffic impacts and more details.
• There will be changed overnight traffic conditions on Weakleys Drive and the New England Highway from Sunday 26 October to carry out work for the planning of the John Renshaw Drive Upgrade Program. Work will be carried out overnight from 8pm to 5am from Sunday 26 October 2025 for up to three nights, weather permitting.
• Intermittent single lane and shoulder closures with traffic control and a reduced speed limit will be in place for the safety of workers and motorists to undertaken field investigations at the following locations:
•  Weakleys Drive between Bowden Way and Glenwood Drive, Beresfield.
• New England Highway on and off ramps at Weakleys Drive, Beresfield.
  
   

• At times, major events in the Newcastle precinct may have an impact on traffic through our project sites.
• No current events.

Oversize and/or Overmass (OSOM) loads are a common sight on NSW roads. In the Hunter region, this is particularly true, with nightly movements in and out of the Port of Newcastle. 

OSOM loads are generally undertaken at night to reduce impacts to motorists and are escorted by a pilot vehicle. In general terms OSOM loads are more than 2.5 metres wide - meaning they can take up more than half the road - and 4.6 metres high.

Motorists may see the movement of large-scale construction infrastructure on the network including bridge girders and earthworks equipment as Transport for NSW navigate temporary changes to select OSOM movements to and from Tomago Industrial Area and Port of Newcastle through projects including M1 extension to Raymond Terrace, Hexham Straight Widening and Newcastle Inner City Bypass Rankin Park to Jesmond. 

For the safety of OSOM operators, motorists and workers on the road, please slow down, be aware and be respectful, so we can all get home safe. 

We advise motorists to exercise caution and allow additional travel time when travelling around OSOM loads.

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator has information to help you safely drive around OSOM loads. 

• Sharing our roads with oversize loads (nhvr.gov.au)

We appreciate the impact cumulative impacts can have on regular commuters. As work on the projects intensifies, delays will increase and considering alternate routes or public transport will be more viable. 

Please note that these alternate routes are suggested for light vehicles only. Heavy vehicles, including over size and/or over mass must refer to and comply with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) national network maps. Operators of Class 1, 2 & 3 vehicles travelling under a permit MUST NOT travel off the approved route listed in the permit unless an updated permit is obtained from the NHVR.

Map 1 – Hexham: Motorists could consider using this alternate route to avoid the Hexham area if travelling north to south or south to north on a regular basis.

Map 2 – Raymond Terrace: Motorists travelling from Sydney to towards Raymond Terrace area could consider detouring via Thornton and Millers Forest

Map 3 – Wallsend: Motorists travelling between Port Stephens and Newcastle could consider travelling via Wallsend

Map 4 - Upper Hunter: Motorists travelling between Newcastle and the Upper Hunter region could consider routes towards Wallsend and Seahampton

Map 5 – Medowie: If travelling from Newcastle to Raymond Terrace or Medowie, consider taking Nelson Bay Road.