New M12 Motorway Relief Eases West Sydney Flow; Nightly CBD Ramp Closures End Today

Morning Commute Overview

Good morning, Sydney. It is Thursday, 26 March 2026, and commuters are facing a mixed bag on the roads this morning. While the recently opened M12 Motorway is providing significant relief for those travelling to and from the Western Sydney Aerotropolis, several scheduled maintenance projects and city events are expected to slow down traffic in the CBD and North Sydney throughout the day. Overall, the network is holding up well, but the usual pinch points remain active.

Western Sydney: M12 Motorway and M7 Integration

The primary highlight for Western Sydney residents is the continued success of the M12 Motorway, which opened to traffic on March 14. This new 16-kilometre toll-free section between Elizabeth Drive and The Northern Road is successfully diverting approximately 25,000 vehicles a day from local streets, greatly improving transit times toward the airport precinct. However, be advised that the M7-M12 Integration Project is carrying out scheduled roadworks at Oakhurst today. Expect minor lane restrictions on the M7 Motorway between Woodstock Avenue and Richmond Road until late this afternoon.

CBD and Western Distributor Alerts

In the city centre, tonight marks the final scheduled night of the current maintenance window for the Kent Street northbound on-ramp to the Western Distributor. The ramp will be closed from 9:00 PM tonight and is slated to reopen at 5:00 AM Friday morning. Motorists heading toward the Sydney Harbour Bridge late tonight should follow the signposted detour via Margaret and Clarence Streets. Additionally, emergency roadworks on Oxford Street at Flinders Street in Darlinghurst are still impacting westbound traffic; expect moderate delays through this corridor during the evening peak.

North Sydney and Warringah Freeway Upgrade

The Warringah Freeway Upgrade remains in a heavy construction phase, particularly around the North Sydney and Cammeray interchanges. While no full freeway closures are in place during daylight hours today, narrow lanes and a strictly enforced 40km/h or 60km/h speed limit are active. For residents seeking updates on the next phase of the project, a mobile community information session is being held today at North Sydney Oval (near the corner of Miller and Ridge Streets) from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM.

Public Transport and Special Events

Sydney Metro and Sydney Trains are running to a regular weekday timetable today. Passengers on the M1 Line should note that while services are normal today, essential testing for the Southwest extension will result in line closures this coming weekend between Macquarie Park and Victoria Cross. On the events front, expect heavy pedestrian activity around ICC Sydney for "The Big Meet" careers fair. The Hong Kong Film Festival also commences today at Event Cinemas on George Street, which may cause localized congestion in the Midtown precinct during the evening commute.

• M12 Motorway: Open and clear; providing faster access to Western Sydney International.
• M7 Oakhurst: Roadworks active; expect minor delays near Richmond Road.
• Kent St Ramp: Final night closure begins at 9:00 PM.
• George St: Increased pedestrian traffic due to film festival opening.