Major Night Closures on M1 and Picton Road This Sunday; Rail Replacements Active

Significant Traffic Disruptions Expected for Sunday, March 22

Commuters and residents in the Wollongong and Illawarra regions are advised to prepare for significant travel disruptions today, Sunday, March 22, 2026. A combination of major infrastructure projects and essential rail maintenance will impact both road users and public transport passengers. The most notable impact involves the full night closure of the M1 Princes Motorway and Picton Road, alongside scheduled trackwork on the South Coast Line.

M1 Princes Motorway and Picton Road Full Night Closures

As part of the ongoing Mount Ousley interchange project, Transport for NSW has confirmed multiple full road closures starting tonight. Both directions of the M1 Princes Motorway between Bulli Tops and Memorial Drive will be closed from 8:00 PM tonight until 4:00 AM Monday morning. Additionally, Picton Road will be closed in both directions between the M1 Princes Motorway and Almond Street at Wilton during the same window. To ensure the motorway is clear by the start time, Picton Road eastbound will begin closing from 7:30 PM.

During these hours, heavy detours will be in place:

• M1 Detours: Motorists travelling between Wollongong and Bulli Tops will be diverted via Memorial Drive and Bulli Pass. Drivers should allow at least 15 minutes of additional travel time.
• Picton Road Detours: Those travelling between Wollongong and the Hume Motorway will be detoured via Memorial Drive, Bulli Pass, and Appin Road, adding approximately 40 minutes to journeys.
• Heavy Vehicles: Vehicles exceeding 19 metres in length or 50.5 tonnes are restricted from using Bulli Pass and should delay their travel until the roads reopen.

The closures are necessary for vegetation maintenance, utility relocation, and the installation of temporary street lighting for the new interchange.

South Coast Line Rail Replacements

Train passengers will also face changes to their Sunday commute. On the South Coast Line, buses will replace trains this morning between Bomaderry, Port Kembla, and Wollongong. These service alterations are part of scheduled maintenance to ensure network safety. Passengers are encouraged to check updated timetables as bus replacement services often take longer than regular train journeys.

Local Suburban Roadworks

Wollongong City Council is continuing several local projects that may cause minor delays in residential areas:

• Dapto: Roadworks are active on West Dapto Road, Wyllie Road, and Burke Road to support new urban developments.
• Coledale: Essential maintenance is taking place on Cater Street.
• Figtree: Traffic and transport upgrades are underway on Bellevue Road, with additional roadworks on Whelan Avenue.
• Wollongong CBD: Footpath upgrades on Rosemont Street and works near the Stewart Street East Carpark may affect local access and parking.

Motorists are urged to follow the directions of traffic controllers and observe all temporary speed limits in these zones to ensure the safety of work crews and the community.