Sydney Clearways Program - Easing Sydney's Congestion Program Office

Reviewed

Project overview

The NSW Government is acting to reduce congestion and delays on Sydney’s roads by installing new and extended clearways.

 

Nominate a clearway

If there is a road that you travel along, that is congested and you think would be improved with changes to the existing clearway or the addition of a new clearway, email us with the details.

Your nomination, together with traffic data, will help us improve the reliability of roads in Sydney.

Program information

Background

In December 2013, the NSW Government published the Sydney Clearways Strategy which identified routes on Sydney’s road network that could benefit from new clearways.

Read or download the Sydney Clearways Strategy for more information.

Clearways announcements

No announcement at this moment.

 

Clearways engagement

What's next?

We are continuing to investigate roads as identified in the Sydney Clearways Strategy that would benefit from new and extended clearways.

What is a clearway?

A clearway is a section of road where stopping or parking is prohibited. Buses and taxis are permitted to stop when dropping off or picking up passengers.

Preliminary investigations show that clearways can help manage congestion in many areas of Sydney by allowing motorists to use all traffic lanes.

For consistency across the road network and to make it easier for road users, clearway hours are standard across the network. Wherever possible, we use the following standard hours:

  • weekday morning (6am - 10am)
  • middle of weekday (10am - 3pm)
  • weekday afternoon (3pm - 7pm)
  • weekend short day (9am - 6pm)
  • weekend long day (8am - 8pm)
  • 24 hours across seven days (At All Times)

$21 million was committed to the implementation of the Sydney Clearways Strategy as part of the $246 million Pinch Point Program.

In November 2014, the NSW Government committed a further $100 million to the implementation of the strategy bringing the total value of the clearways program to $121 million.

How do clearways reduce congestion?

Clearways help reduce congestion on many Sydney roads where the road is close to capacity and parking disrupts the flow of traffic

When vehicles are parked in the kerbside lane, fewer lanes are available to traffic and road users are also forced to merge from the kerbside lane which can create significant delays and queues.

By removing the parking, an additional lane is available for road users which helps traffic flow and manage congestion.

Clearways also allow us to tow vehicles that are stopped illegally or broken down.

This ensures all lanes are available to traffic when they are needed most.

More information

For further information about Sydney's Clearways Strategy, see the fact sheet.

For frequently asked questions about new and extended clearways, see the FAQ.

Installed clearways

2020 - 2021

In the 2020-21 financial year we have installed 7 kilometres of clearways, bringing the total new and extended clearways installed since December 2013 to approximately 743 kilometres.

2019 - 2020

In the 2019-20 financial year we have already installed close to 157.8 kilometres of clearways, bringing the total new and extended clearways installed since December 2013 to approximately 736 kilometres.

2018 - 2019

In the 2018-19 financial year we have already installed 157.6 kilometres of clearways, bringing the total new and extended clearways installed since December 2013 to approximately 578.5 kilometres.

2017 - 2018

In the 2017-18 financial year we installed 226.2 kilometres of clearways, bringing the total new and extended clearways installed since December 2013 to 420.9 kilometres.

2016 - 2017

2015 - 2016

2014 - 2015

In the 2014-15 financial year we installed 12.5 kilometres of clearways, bringing the total new and extended clearways installed since December 2013 to 16.5 kilometres.

 

Sydney Clearways Strategy map

Feedback

We’ve heard that clearways keep you moving – look what some of our road users have to say about recently installed clearways!

  • 'Thank you. Thank you. For finally making New South Head Road through Edgecliff a clearway.' - Daniel, Edgecliff.
  • 'Wow! That’s fantastic! Well done to the people who made this happen.” – Kim, Taren Point resident.
  • “This [clearway] is a wonderful initiative. Long overdue. It will not only greatly improve traffic flow but also safety. Well done to all responsible.” – John, Edgecliff.
  • “I’m a great fan of clearways. I think roads should be used to move people and goods not to help park cars.” – Robert, Rosebay.
  • “Excellent. That’s common sense really.” – David, Taren Point.

Project documents

Some documents on this page may not comply with accessibility requirements (WCAG).

If you are having trouble accessing information in these documents, please contact us.

 

Media releases

  • 23 March 2020

    Traffic flow to improve along Blaxland Road.

  • 13 September 2019

    New rail bridge placed over Castlereagh Road.

  • 6 December 2019

    New clearways on the way for New Line Road and Boundary Road.

Contact us

If your vehicle has been towed from a clearway, please call the Transport Management Centre on 131 700

For further information about this project, please contact:

Phone: 1300 706 232

Email:clearways@transport.nsw.gov.au