Major M1 Night Closures and Rail Disruptions: Wollongong Sunday Travel Update

Sunday Travel Overview

Commuters and weekend travelers in the Illawarra should prepare for significant disruptions this Sunday, March 29, 2026. While daytime road conditions are expected to remain stable, a major full closure of the M1 Princes Motorway is scheduled for Sunday night. Additionally, extensive trackwork on the South Coast Line will affect rail passengers throughout the day. Residents are encouraged to plan ahead and allow for extra travel time.

M1 Princes Motorway Night Closures

As part of the ongoing Mount Ousley Interchange project, Transport for NSW has announced multiple full road closures of the M1 Princes Motorway (Mount Ousley Road). The closures will take place between 8:00 PM Sunday and 4:00 AM Monday. These impacts will stretch from Bulli Pass to Memorial Drive, and include Picton Road between the M1 and Almond Street at Wilton.

During the closure period, heavy vehicle detours will be in place for those less than 19 meters long. Larger heavy vehicles will be required to park and wait for specific escort windows. During daylight hours, motorists should still exercise caution through the interchange construction zone, where reduced speed limits of 40 km/h remain strictly enforced for worker safety.

Public Transport: Rail Replacement Buses

Significant trackwork is scheduled across the rail network today. On the South Coast Line, buses will replace trains between Bomaderry and Wollongong all day Sunday. Passengers traveling between these stations should anticipate significantly longer journey times and check revised timetables before heading to the platform.

For those traveling toward Sydney, trains will continue to run between Port Kembla, Wollongong, and Bondi Junction. However, passengers should note that these services will not stop at Town Hall station. Commuters needing to reach the Sydney CBD should change at Central for Metro services to Gadigal or utilize the light rail network.

Local Roadworks and Education Precinct Changes

Wollongong City Council has several active work sites that may cause minor delays on local streets. Impacted areas include Bedford Street in Berkeley, Burke Road in Dapto, and Garden Avenue in Figtree. Motorists are also reminded of the temporary traffic changes surrounding the University of Wollongong education precinct. Southbound traffic exiting the M1 at University Avenue is being diverted to make a U-turn at the eastern roundabout, with detours in place via Murphys Avenue and Robsons Road to manage high student volumes.

Key Sunday Commuter Summary

• M1 Princes Motorway: Full closure in both directions from 8:00 PM Sunday to 4:00 AM Monday between Bulli Pass and Memorial Drive.
• South Coast Line: Buses replace trains between Bomaderry and Wollongong all day.
• Sydney CBD Travel: Trains are skipping Town Hall; change at Central for the Metro.
• Speed Limits: 40 km/h construction zones remain active at the base of Mount Ousley during the day.