Traffic delays expected for Bathurst 1000 with major highway still shut
About 200,000 spectators will make their way to the NSW Central West for the race weekend.
Traffic delays are expected for the upcoming Bathurst 1000 race due to the continued closure of a major highway from Sydney. Bathurst Regional Council is hosting a concert on Monday to keep locals in the area for an extra night. Practice sessions begin on Thursday, with the main event taking place on Sunday. Over 200,000 motor racing fans are anticipated to attend the event this weekend.
Drivers coming from Central West NSW experienced a 12-kilometer backup on Monday heading into Lithgow, causing significant delays along the Blue Mountains route. The Great Western Highway at Victoria Pass has been shut since March, forcing all traffic to use the Darling Causeway and Bells Line of Road. With racegoers from Sydney funneled onto a single road through Lithgow, traffic congestion is expected to be worse over the weekend.
Transport for NSW's Howard Collins advises drivers to allow extra travel time and suggests alternative routes such as the Golden Highway from the north or the Hume Highway via Goulburn. TfNSW has deployed drones and additional tow trucks to monitor conditions and handle breakdowns or accidents. Some fans have already arrived early, setting up camp on Mount Panorama.
The Bathurst Regional Council Mayor, Ben Fry, encourages people to arrive early and be patient, as the council plans a concert on Monday night to stagger the departure of fans. Police will be heavily present throughout the four-day event to ensure safety and security, with extra patrols targeting speeding, drink-driving, fatigue, and dangerous driving.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
