There will be silver lining for Aussies in one city as they prepare for extensive road closures amid a major sporting event.
Drivers are being warned to expect major delays due to the Sydney Marathon. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer
Sydney residents will be given toll-free travel this weekend as they brace for an onslaught of road closures and commuter chaos.
Up to 40,000 runners are expected to descend on the city for the annual Marathon Running Festival on Sunday September 17, triggering extensive road closures.
Transport NSW has warned the road closures are “more significant” than past events and “travel across the city will be very limited for the majority of the day”.
However, there will be a silver lining for residents who travel through the Cross City Tunnel on race day.
Tens of thousands of runners will participate in the Sydney Marathon on Sunday.
Toll operator Transurban has declared that there will be no toll charge for vehicles driving through the tunnel between 5am and 3pm on Sunday.
“If you have a tag, it won’t beep during this period,” the company wrote in a notification to registered Sydney drivers.
Driving through the tunnel before or after that specified timeslot will incur the standard toll fare.
Transport for NSW noted the Cross City Tunnel will be the only way to travel east/west across the marathon course on Sunday.
The toll-free travel perk comes as Sydneysiders are being urged to prepare for long delays and substantial detours as a result of the marathon.
“Due to changes to the event course this year, road closures are more significant and travel across the city will be very limited for (the) majority of the day,” Transport for NSW cautioned.
There will be dozens of road closures around Sydney on Sunday. Picture: Transport for NSW
The “record number of participants” in the 42km marathon, 21km half marathon, 10km bridge run and 3.5km family fun run will all begin from Bradfield Park in Milsons Point.
The runners will then cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge before snaking through the city, iconic harbourside suburbs, and finishing up at Centennial Park.
Major roads in Milsons Point, the CBD, The Rocks, Millers Point, Barangaroo, Pyrmont, Darlinghurst, Moore Park and Centennial Park will be closed between 3.30am and 3pm.
Commuters will also be unable to access crucial roads, including Macquarie St, College St, Park St, Oxford St and Flinders St, from 4am until after 2.30pm on Sunday.
Additionally, three of the city’s major thoroughfares will be shut for six hours in the morning.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge, Cahill Expressway and Western Distributor will all be closed in both directions from 4am to 10am, but the Sydney Harbour Tunnel will remain open.
“The city will be no place for cars while the event is underway,” warned the organisers of the Sydney Marathon.
Even public transport users will be affected by the marathon, with buses to and from the city, North Sydney, Pyrmont and Moore Park forced to diverge from their regular routes.
Drivers are being urged to be wary of extensive special event clearway parking restrictions in order to avoid being towed.
All roads affected by Sydney Marathon closures
2am to 4am and 1:15pm to 2pm – Eastern Distributor Bondi Exit to Moore Park Rd.
3.30am to 11am – Roads at the starting line in Milsons Point including Alfred St South.
4am to 8.30am – Roads in Millers Point and Barangaroo including sections of Watsons Rd, Upper Fort St and Argyle St.
4am to 9:30am – Roads in Pyrmont north including Bowman St and Pirrama Rd.
4am to 10am: Sydney Harbour Bridge, Cahill Expressway, Western Distributor and some roads in Milsons Point and Pyrmont.
4am to 10:30am – Roads in Millers Point including Hickson Rd, Dalgety Rd and Towns Place.
4am to 11am – Roads in The Rocks and Dawes Point including Hickson Rd and George St.
4am to 2pm – Roads in Moore Park including Moore Park Rd, Driver Ave. Centennial Park will also be closed to vehicles.
4am to 2:30pm – Park St, College St, Oxford St and Flinders St from the city, Darlinghurst through to Moore Park.
4am to 3pm – Roads in Sydney CBD east including Macquarie St, Bridge St, College St and Art Gallery Rd.
5:30am to 11am – Roads in Sydney CBD north and Circular Quay including Bridge St, Pitt St, Loftus St and Young St.
6:30am to 12pm – Southbound lanes of Anzac Pde from Moore Park Rd to Lang Rd at Moore Park. Eastern Distributor Randwick Anzac Pde exit will also be closed.
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Keyword: Sydney drivers get toll-free travel on major road for marathon