newy.com.au – Motorists at Hexham face overlapping traffic restrictions from Sunday 20 September 2026, as months of intersection work begin ahead of two overnight closures of the southbound Hexham Bridge.
Transport for NSW expects improvements at the Maitland Road and New England Highway intersection to continue until early 2027, weather permitting. Lane reductions will apply during the work at the intersection and for westbound traffic on the New England Highway.
The bridge maintenance is scheduled for two overnight shifts: from 7pm Monday 21 September 2026 to 5am Tuesday 22 September 2026, then from 7pm Tuesday to 5am Wednesday 23 September 2026. Those shifts coincide with scheduled overnight work at the intersection.
During the bridge work, the southbound bridge will close and traffic will use the northbound bridge in both directions under contraflow arrangements. Newcastle-bound motorists will cross on the northbound bridge before continuing onto Maitland Road.
Drivers heading towards Tarro and Beresfield are being urged to continue on the M1 Pacific Motorway and use the New England Highway exit and Weakleys Drive interchange. Transport for NSW has given this route advice alongside the temporary bridge arrangements.
The intersection project has a broader working timetable, covering weekdays, nights and Saturday mornings. Daytime work is scheduled between 7am and 6pm, Monday to Friday, with overnight shifts between 7pm and 5am, Sunday to Thursday. Saturday work is scheduled between 8am and 1pm.
The lane reductions are associated with those works, rather than a complete closure of the intersection. The bridge closure is also limited to the southbound bridge during the maintenance shifts, with a crossing retained for Newcastle-bound traffic through the contraflow arrangement.
The bridge’s twice-yearly maintenance is expected to be completed in the two shifts, subject to suitable weather. The intersection works will continue beyond that maintenance period, with completion expected early next year.
Oversize and overmass operators should check the vehicle-specific impacts for each work site. The relevant Live Traffic NSW notices are incident 287804 for the intersection improvements and incident 287806 for the bridge maintenance.
Vehicles operating under a permit must remain on their approved route unless an updated permit has been obtained. That requirement also applies when drivers are considering the alternative route advised for general traffic.
Transport for NSW has advised motorists to drive to the conditions and follow signs and traffic control directions through both work sites.
Links:
https://www.livetraffic.com/incident-details/287806
