With school holidays underway and the October long weekend approaching - which coincides with the end of Queensland school holidays - Transport for NSW advises our highways will see heavy traffic and some delays. 

So if you’re heading out on a road trip, here’s some advice about planning for road works, taking it slow and making it to your destination safely.

If you are thinking of taking your bicycle on the back of your car, read the Lismore App story Motorists cop $400 fines for putting bicycles on the back of cars

On the road, double demerits apply this weekend for all speeding, mobile phone, seatbelt and motorcycle helmet offences.

Don’t forget daylight savings kicks in this Sunday, October 6, where clocks go forward one hour (5am becomes 6am).

Read on to see detailed information about which roads will be experiencing delays.

Based on traffic flow information from previous years and predictive analytics, motorists can expect heavy holiday traffic at the following locations on the NSW North Coast: 

Pacific Highway at Woodburn

Motorists heading south are advised of expected heavy traffic on the Pacific Highway near Woodburn.

Changed traffic conditions will be in place to keep motorists moving on Monday 7 October between 9am and 5pm. These times may vary depending on traffic volumes.

Motorists will be temporarily restricted from turning right from the Court Street Bridge onto the Pacific Highway.

Access to Woodburn Street will also be restricted with traffic unable to enter or exit Woodburn Street at the intersection with the highway.

Pacific Highway at Woodburn - northbound

Friday 4 October between 10am and 3pm delays of up to 15 minutes can be expected.

Saturday 5 October between 10am and 3pm delays of up to 15 minutes can be expected.

Monday 7 October between 10am and 12pm delays of up to 15 minutes, between 12pm and 3pm delays of up to 30 minutes and between 3pm and 6pm delays of up to 15 minutes can be expected

Pacific Highway at Tweed Heads - northbound

Friday 4 October between 10am and 3pm delays of up to 10 minutes can be expected.

Monday 7 October between 10am and 12pm delays of up to 10 minutes, between 12pm and 3pm delays of up to 20 minutes and between 3pm and 6pm delays of up to 15 minutes can be expected. 

Pacific Highway at Ulmarra - northbound

Friday 4 October between 10am and 3pm delays of up to 10 minutes can be expected.

Monday 7 October between 10am and 12pm delays of up to 10 minutes, between 12pm and 3pm delays of up to 30 minutes and between 3pm and 6pm delays of up to 15 minutes can be expected.

Pacific Highway at Coffs Harbour - northbound

Northbound trip on Friday 4 October between 10am and 3pm delays of 10 to 15 minutes can be expected. 

Northbound trip on Saturday 5 October between 10am and 12pm delays of up to 15 minutes can be expected. 

Pacific Highway at Coffs Harbour - southbound

Monday 7 October between 10am and 3pm delays of 5 to 10 minutes can be expected. 

Pacific Highway at Hexham - northbound

Friday 4 October between 6am and 10am delays of up to 10 minutes, between 10am and 12pm delays of up to 30 minutes and between 12pm and 3pm delays of up to 20 minutes can be expected. 

Saturday 5 October between 10am and 12pm delays of up to 10 minutes can be expected.

Pacific Highway at Hexham – southbound

Monday 7 October between 10am and 12pm delays of up to 10 minutes, between 12pm and 3pm delays of up to 30 minutes and between 3pm and 6pm delays of up to 10 minutes can be expected. 

Nelson Bay Road at Salt Ash

Monday 7 October between 10am and 3pm delays of up to 15 minutes can be expected.

Changed traffic conditions and night work for Woolgoolga to Ballina upgrade

Motorists are advised of changed traffic conditions and night work on the Pacific Highway from Monday 30 September to Sunday 6 October for the Woolgoolga to Ballina upgrade.

There will be no roadwork carried out on the Pacific Highway between Kew and the Queensland border from 6am Friday 4 October to 6pm Tuesday 8 October due to the high traffic volumes expected for the long weekend. Emergency maintenance and safety repair work will be carried out as required.

From Monday, there will be four nights of work on the Pacific Highway between Devils Pulpit and Woodburn to carry out line marking and paving and to install traffic barriers. Motorists can expect lane closures and traffic control between 6pm and 6am.

Also from Monday, there will be three days of work on the Pacific Highway at Maclean to carry out paving for the new interchange. Motorists can expect a reduced speed limit of 60km/h between 7am and 6pm.

Tabulam Bridge maintenance

Motorists are advised of continued changed traffic conditions and delays on the Bruxner Highway at Tabulam while essential maintenance is carried out on Tabulam Bridge.

Maintenance activities will take another four weeks to complete, weather permitting, with work being carried out between 7am and 5pm on weekdays.

Motorists may experience delays of up to 15 minutes while work is carried out.

These delays will be confined to outside school start and finish times once students return on October 14, and queues will be managed to minimise disruptions to the travelling public. 

Traffic control and a reduced speed limit are in place for the safety of workers and motorists.

Motorists are advised to drive to the conditions, and to follow the directions of signs and traffic control.

Plan your trip

You can plan you trip by visiting the holiday journeys webpage: rms.nsw.gov.au/holiday-journeys

If you are keen to take an alternative route to your holiday destination which avoids the know pinch points, Destination NSW offers advice to plan your trip www.visitnsw.com/things-to-do/drives-and-road-trips

Additional message boards will be displaying real time information ahead of key traffic hotspots to assist travellers plan ahead or refer to Live Traffic to real time updates.

Transport for NSW director of operations Mr Jonathon Crocker said Transport for NSW is helping motorists by providing information about traffic hotspots and alternative road options that may provide a smoother journey. 

“We’ve used a combination of traffic data from previous years and predictive analytics to help motorists better understand what to expect on their journeys.”

“It’s important to remember the delay information is in addition to the time it would take to travel through these areas on an average day.

“We will also have Transport for NSW staff set up at the Warnervale Service Centres, and Clybucca and Yelgun rest areas ahead of known hotspots and delay points to give real time traffic information, return journey details, safety tips and support to travellers.

“Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead, get a good night’s sleep before they travel and take regular breaks.”

Find out about traffic updates

For the latest traffic updates, download the Live Traffic NSW App, visit livetraffic.com or call 132 701.

For information about local roadworks, visit The Lismore App Roadworks section.