North Sydney Gridlock Expected: CBD Closures and Freeway Works Start Today

Significant Delays Predicted for North Sydney Commuters

Commuters traveling through North Sydney today, Friday, 6 February 2026, are advised to plan for significant disruptions and allow extra travel time. A combination of a major community event and the commencement of intensive weekend roadworks on the Warringah Freeway is expected to cause heavy congestion starting from the mid-morning and extending through the evening peak.

North Sydney Streets 'After Dark' Closures

The 'North Sydney Streets: CBD After Dark' event, part of the Open Streets Program, will see several key roads in the North Sydney CBD closed to all vehicle traffic. These closures are necessary to facilitate a free street party and open-air dining precinct. The following restrictions will be in effect from 11:00 AM today until 1:00 AM Saturday morning:

• Denison Street: Full closure from Berry Street to Mount Street.
• Spring Street: Full closure from Denison Street to Little Spring Street.
• Mount Street: Partial closures from Denison Street to Walker Street.

Local businesses and residents should note that access to car parks, residences, and loading docks within the event footprint will be temporarily unavailable during these hours. Motorists should use alternate routes such as Pacific Highway or Walker Street to bypass the CBD core.

Warringah Freeway Weekend Shutdown Begins

Further complicating travel, the next phase of the Warringah Freeway Upgrade begins tonight at 10:00 PM. This intensive work window will run until 5:00 AM Monday. Starting tonight, multiple ramp and lane closures will be implemented between Milsons Point and Falcon Street. Key impact areas include:

• The Arthur Street, Miller Street, and Falcon Street intersections.
• The Mount Street western on-ramp.
• Reduced lane capacity on both northbound and southbound freeway lanes.

While the most severe impacts are expected over the weekend, motorists departing the city late tonight will encounter detours and heavy machinery in the area. High noise levels and vibrations are also anticipated for nearby residents.

Public Transport Alerts

While metropolitan trains are largely running to a standard weekday timetable during the day, several alerts are in place for this evening and for regional travelers:

• Regional Services: Coaches will replace specific NSW TrainLink services today, including the 06:00 Brisbane to Sydney and the 19:30 Casino to Sydney services from Broadmeadow.
• Weekend Trackwork: Early maintenance work is scheduled to begin late tonight (approximately 10:00 PM) on the T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line and the South Coast Line between Central, Port Kembla, and Cronulla. Buses will replace trains on these sections throughout the night.
• Station Improvements: Ongoing maintenance continues at Redfern and Hornsby stations, though this is not expected to impact platform access during the peak.

Commuters are encouraged to use public transport where possible to reach the North Sydney precinct, though bus passengers should be aware that some stops may be relocated due to the CBD street closures.