Traffic delays continue for holidaymakers on the road

Backed up: the Pacific Highwayis queued back 13 kilometres. Photo: Peter Stoop

Holidaymakers were forced to endure another day of heavy traffic, experiencing delays of up to an hour along the Pacific Highway.

Currently, the worst spot for drivers is the Pacific Highway in Macksville, where northbound traffic is queued back 10 kilometres, adding about 45 minutes to journeys. Southbound traffic has returned to normal volumes.

On the Pacific Highway at Woodburn, northbound traffic was delayed by around 50 minutes, queued back almost 10 kilometres.

Around 16 kilometres north of Port Macquarie, a multi-vehicle accident left only one lane open on the Pacific Highway at Blackmans Point. Northbound traffic is now queued back 8 kilometres and southbound 6km.

On the Princes Highway at Berry drivers experienced delays of about 30 minutes, while On the M1 Pacific Motorway (F3), between Wyong and Warnervale Northbound traffic was queued back for 5km.

“Motorists are advised to allow plenty of extra travel time, expect significant delays and plan their trip,” said Nicquie Sinclair, Transport Management spokesperson.

NSW Police are continuing to urge drivers to use caution on the roads as they reach day nine of Operation Safe Arrival, the state’s Christmas – New Year road safety campaign, which runs until 11.59pm January 4.

In the first few days of the operation police have reported a number of reckless motorists on the road. On Saturday police caught 966 speeding motorists, up from 763 on the same day last year.

“While the vast majority people using our roads do so safely and responsibly, we continue to be dismayed by the small number of reckless drivers who seem intent on destruction,” commander of the NSW Police Force’s Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, assistant commissioner John Hartley said.

“It beggars belief that some of those arrested yesterday are still alive. Their antics are absolutely deplorable.”

For the latest traffic information, visit www.livetraffic.com or call 132 701.

source: smh.com.au