Swansea Bridge

From 1 June 2025, Swansea Bridge will no longer open automatically at pre-scheduled times on weekends and public holidays.

Bookings will now be required to arrange passage through Swansea Bridge. This adjustment is aimed at improving traffic safety and efficiency in the local area.

Please make sure to plan ahead and book your passage when necessary, by calling Marine Rescue on 02 4972 7400 or VHF ch 16.

See more information on Bridge bookings

See more in the May 2025 project notification (PDF, 114.01 KB).

Thank you for your cooperation as we implement this new process.

From Sunday 25 May, Transport for NSW will carry out maintenance work which includes inspecting and testing the electrical, mechanical and hydraulic components and the emergency systems of the bridges. Maintenance work will also be carried out on the bridge hydraulic locks and pumps.

Work will be carried out on Swansea bridge from Sunday 25 May between 7pm and 5am and is expected to be completed in five shifts, weather permitting. There will be some temporary traffic changes to ensure the work zone is safe. One bridge will remain open at all times, operating with one lane in each direction while the maintenance work is being carried out. Traffic control and a reduced speed limit of 40km/h will be in place for the safety of workers and motorists.

The bridge will not be open to marine traffic while the work is carried out.

On Monday 28 April, Transport for NSW will carry out maintenance work which includes material delivery to the plant room and inspections and testing the emergency systems on the southbound bridge. Bridge lifts will be required during this work.

Work will be carried out on Monday 28 April between 7pm and 5am and is expected to be completed in one shift, weather permitting.

There will be some temporary traffic changes to ensure the work zone is safe. The northbound bridge will remain open at all times, operating with one lane in each direction while the maintenance work is being carried out. Traffic control and a reduced speed limit of 40km/h will be in place for the safety of workers and motorists.

The bridge will not be open to marine traffic while the work is carried out.

From Sunday 19 January, Transport for NSW will carry out maintenance work, which includes maintenance and upgrades to the control room and installation new marine Variable Message Signs (VMS). 

Work will be carried out from Sunday 19 January to Thursday 23 January between 8pm and 5am, weather permitting. 

Contraflow and a reduced speed limit of 40km/h will be in place for southbound traffic for four nights from Sunday 19 January to Wednesday 22 January and for northbound traffic on Thursday 23 January. 

The marine VMS will be out of commission from Sunday 19 January to Wednesday 22 January. Vessels will be required to use existing RED/GREEN navigation lights when entering the lake. 

The bridge will not be open to marine traffic while the work is carried out. 

All heavy vehicles with a width greater than 2.5m will not be permitted through the site and are required to find an alternate route during the work.  Operators of heavy vehicles travelling under a Notice MUST consult their relevant enforceable network map to confirm a suitable APPROVED alternate route. 

See more in the May 2025 project  update (PDF, 114.01 KB).

From Sunday 20 October, Transport for NSW will carry out biannual maintenance work which includes survey work, inspecting and testing the electrical, mechanical and hydraulic components and the emergency systems of the bridges. We will also be carrying out maintenance work to the bridge hydraulic locks and pumps.

Work will be carried out on Swansea bridge from Sunday 20 October to Thursday 31 October. Work hours are 7pm and 5am, Sunday to Thursday. We expect to be completed in ten shifts over two weeks, weather permitting.

There will be some temporary traffic changes to ensure the work zone is safe. One bridge will remain open at all times, operating with one lane in each direction while the maintenance work is being carried out. Traffic control and a reduced speed limit of 40km/h will be in place for the safety of workers and motorists.

The bridge will not be open to marine traffic while the work is carried out.

See more in the October 2024 project update (PDF, 267.35 KB).

From Monday 24 June, Transport for NSW will be carrying out maintenance work, which includes inspections, cleaning and brace installation on the some of the bridge piers.

Work will take place from Monday 24 June and is expected to be completed intermittently over two weeks, weather permitting.

Working hours are 7am to 5pm from Monday to Friday, weather permitting.

 

Periodic openings will take place during the work. Motorists should expect up to 10 minutes delay on their journey during these openings. No opening will be done during peak road traffic times at 8am and 4pm.

For the safety of the community and our workers, the public access car park on the north-east side of the bridge will be closed during work hours.

Lake Macquarie is the largest saltwater lake in Australia and four times the size of Sydney Harbour. It plays an important role in the region for diving, boating, leisure and tourism activities.

More than 27,000 road vehicles use Swansea Bridge each day. The pedestrian and cycleway paths on both bridges provide both recreational and commuting access.

The bridge opens about 2000 times each year, which is around five to six times per day, allowing up to 4500 boats to pass through each year.

Find out more information about bridge opening times.

The original channel crossing at Swansea was a drawbridge built in the early 1880s. This was replaced in 1909 with a bridge which incorporated a roadway, later to become the Pacific Highway.

The current crossing has two opening bridges spanning the entrance to Lake Macquarie. The older northbound bridge was opened in 1955 and the second southbound bridge was opened in 1989. Each of the bridges contains two lanes for traffic and provides pedestrian and cycleway access.

Monthly maintenance on Swansea Bridge is generally carried out on the second Tuesday of every month.

The mechanical, electrical and hydraulic components of the bridge are checked and inspected.

The inspections require test lifts, which are done outside bridge opening times over a two-to-three-hour period. This is carried out after the morning peak to minimise the impact on Pacific Highway traffic. Motorists may be impacted during the openings and should allow for a delay of up to five minutes.

The bi-annual service of Swansea Bridge usually takes place over four nights in May and October each year. The work is carried out at night to minimise disruption to traffic. One bridge remains open for both directions of traffic (one lane in each direction) while work is undertaken on the other bridge.

The hydraulic, electrical and mechanical components are inspected and tested to ensure they are in good working condition. Emergency systems are also checked. If necessary, components are repaired or replaced. Bi-annual servicing provides an opportunity to undertake other work while there is no traffic on the bridge.

The bascule (opening section of the bridge) will not be in operation during the bi-annual service. Boats will not be able to pass through the Swansea Bridge navigation channel. There are a number of moorings located to the east and west of the bridge to help minimise the impact of reduced access in the channel.

View Swansea Bridge openings information.

Transport for NSW will work with the community to provide information about maintenance at the bridge as early as possible to reduce the impacts of closures.

Depending on the maintenance work required, Transport for NSW will advise the local community through:

• Letterbox drops
• Electronic message signs on the approaches to the bridge
• Traffic alerts to local media
• Marine community alerts through the Swansea coastguard
• Social media.

For more information on opening times, booking details and rules for boats travelling through Swansea Bridge visit the Swansea Bridge openings page.

• May 2025 project notification (PDF, 114.01 KB) - Swansea Bridge automatic opening change
• May 2025 project notification (PDF, 261.93 KB) - Night work on Swansea Bridge, Swansea, from Sunday 25 May
• April 2025 project notification (PDF, 249.61 KB) - Night work on Swansea Bridge, Swansea on Monday 28 April
• January 2025 project notification (PDF, 262.29 KB) - Start of work on Swansea Bridge, Swansea from Sunday 19 January
• October 2024 project notification (PDF, 267.35 KB) -  Notification of biannual maintenance from 21 October 2024
• June 2024 project notification (PDF, 281.26 KB) - Start of work on Swansea Bridge, Swansea from Monday 24 June
• May 2024 project notification (PDF, 232.06 KB) - Start of work on Swansea Bridge, Swansea from Monday 27 May
• October 2023 project notification (PDF, 166.11 KB) - Night work on Swansea Bridges, Swansea from Monday 23 October
• October 2022 project notification - Night work on Swansea Bridges, Swansea from Monday 31 October

• October 2021 project notification - Night work on Swansea Bridges, Swansea from Monday 18 October

• May 2021 project notification - Night work on Swansea Bridges, Swansea from Monday 24 May
• April 2021 project notification - Changes to the bridge opening schedule on Swansea Bridge, Swansea from Monday 19 April
• October 2020 project notification
• May 2020 project notification
• October 2019 project notification
• May 2019 project notification