UPDATED TUESDAY: Major Bridge Closure on New England Highway for Essential Maintenance

TUESDAY MORNING UPDATE:

***Update at 9:52am We checked and there are no major traffic delays in our region. An earlier minor accident on John Renshaw Drive has been cleared.

MONDAY ARVO UPDATE:

Novocastrians have lost all hope getting home in time for dinner. Thankfully this will end on Tuesday afternoon.
– Pacific Highway approaching the Hexham Bridge back to Sandgate.
– M1 queued to Black Hill Road
– John Renshaw Drive back to Black Hill
– Kooragang Island a standstill all the way to Fern Bay
– Pacific Highway back to Heatherbrae
– Newcastle Link Road is a carpark
– Russell Road is queued back to Lambton

Hunter motorists and freight operators are being urged to plan ahead for significant disruptions next weekend as the A43 New England Highway, a critical link between Newcastle and Maitland, undergoes essential maintenance work on the Tarro Bridge.

MONDAY UPDATE: 

There are significant delays with queues extending on to the M1 today. The trip from the Black Hill interchange to Heatherbrae, used to take 10mins, is now 40+ minutes.

Original Report

The maintenance, scheduled from 2am on Saturday, 3 August to 5am on Tuesday, 6 August, will address long-term repairs to the bridge pylons and southern abutment, ensuring the bridge’s resilience and safety. Transport for NSW Regional Director North Anna Zycki emphasised the importance of this work, stating, “Tarro Bridge is a critical link for motorists, freight operators, and businesses, which is why carrying out this maintenance work is so important.”

During the maintenance period, traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction, and vehicles exceeding 3.5 metres in width or 69 tonnes in weight will be diverted. Detours for these heavy vehicles include Maitland Road, Newcastle Inner City Bypass, Newcastle Road, and Hunter Expressway. Transport for NSW advises motorists to allow extra travel time and to follow all signage and detour instructions.

The timing of the bridge work coincides with a three-day rail corridor closure for track maintenance from 3-6 August, ensuring minimal disruption to both road and rail users. Ms Zycki noted, “We know the New England Highway is a busy route, so we are encouraging commuters to work from home on Monday, 5 August, if possible. Those who are unable to do so are encouraged to consider an alternate route where possible and allow extra travel time.”

Public transport will also be affected, with buses replacing trains into Newcastle from 3am Saturday to 5am Tuesday. Commuters should anticipate increased pressure on the road network during this period.

The maintenance work involves encasing the short pylons underneath the bridge to enhance structural strength, allowing the bridge to safely continue accommodating heavy traffic. “We said last year we would need to come back to do more work, following the limitations on heavy vehicles and lane restrictions for all traffic,” Ms Zycki added. “The scheduled rail shutdown provides the perfect opportunity to carry out this work below the bridge deck.”

Lane closures and changes during the maintenance period include:

• From 3am on Saturday, 3 August to 9am Sunday, 4 August, a slow lane closure in both directions with speed reduction.
• From 10am Sunday, 4 August to 3am Tuesday, 6 August, the slow lanes will reopen, and the fast lane will close in each direction with speed reduction.
• All lanes will reopen to all traffic from 5am on Tuesday, 6 August.

Additional maintenance work is also scheduled for the same weekend at Sandgate Rail Bridge, Industrial Drive Rail Bridge, and Kooragang Bridge. While these works are expected to cause minor impacts, motorists and commuters should plan for short delays due to the busier than usual surrounding road network.

Transport for NSW expressed gratitude for the community’s patience and understanding during this crucial maintenance period. “The safety of motorists and the community is our top priority,” said Ms Zycki. Transport for NSW will keep the community informed of the Tarro Bridge work and any future maintenance projects.

Motorists are encouraged to stay updated through LiveTraffic.com and plan their journeys accordingly to minimise disruptions.