Major Night Closures on M1 and Morning Peak Diversions Near UOW

Commuter Overview for Wednesday, 1 April 2026

Wollongong commuters should prepare for a split day of traffic conditions this Wednesday. While the early morning and afternoon periods are expected to flow relatively normally on major coastal routes, specific local diversions near the university precinct will impact the morning peak. Most critically, a significant full-scale road closure is scheduled for Wednesday night, which will affect all travel between the Illawarra and Sydney or the Southern Highlands after 8:00 PM.

Morning Peak: Education Precinct Diversions

As part of the ongoing 2026 traffic management plan for the tertiary return, motorists traveling near the University of Wollongong (UOW) and TAFE NSW should expect changed conditions between 7:45 AM and 9:15 AM. These measures are designed to prevent dangerous queuing on the M1 Princes Motorway off-ramps.

• University Avenue: Motorists exiting the M1 southbound at University Avenue will be diverted left to perform a U-turn at the eastern roundabout. Access to the campus will be via the southern route using Murphys Avenue and Robsons Road.
• Gwynneville Detours: Northbound motorists using the Gwynneville exit will be detoured to the roundabout at Northfields Avenue to access local streets.
• Proactive Tip: Drivers coming from Keiraville or Gwynneville looking to head north on the M1 are advised to use the Robsons Road entry at West Wollongong to bypass the core congestion zone.

Major Alert: Full Night Closures of M1 and Picton Road

The most significant disruption occurs late Wednesday evening. Transport for NSW has confirmed full road closures for the M1 Princes Motorway (Mount Ousley Road) and Picton Road to facilitate essential construction on the Mount Ousley Interchange project.

• Timing: The M1 will be closed in both directions between Bulli Tops and Memorial Drive from 8:00 PM Wednesday until 4:00 AM Thursday. Picton Road eastbound will close earlier at 7:30 PM.
• Detours: Light vehicles will be detoured via Bulli Pass (Princes Highway) and Appin Road. Motorists should allow an additional 15 to 40 minutes of travel time depending on their destination.
• Heavy Vehicles: Vehicles exceeding 19 metres or 50.5 tonnes are restricted from using Bulli Pass and must delay their travel or use approved alternate freight routes.

Public Transport and Rail Updates

On the South Coast Line, commuters should be aware of planned maintenance. Buses are scheduled to replace trains between Bomaderry and Wollongong throughout the day. Additionally, for those heading into Sydney late at night, Metro services between Central and Sydenham will be suspended from 9:50 PM, with passengers required to transfer to suburban rail services to complete their journey. All regular Wollongong bus services, including the free Gong Shuttle, are expected to operate on standard Wednesday timetables, though minor delays may occur near the university during the morning peak.