Road closures for World Youth Day 2008
If you’re wondering how bad the road closures will be during the weeklong World Youth Day, just imagine APEC and the Olympics combined.
Most major events will be in or near Sydney’s CBD so many roads will be closed and there will be extensive clearways. In fact, to cater for the event and police security requests, Sydney will lose at least a third of the city’s ability to carry traffic. Expect significant disruption.
People are encouraged to use public transport, and CBD businesses and workers should consider taking leave or working from home.
Special event clearways and road closures will start on Friday, July 11 in College Street and will get progressively more extensive each day until the Final Mass with the Pope on Sunday, July 20.
Road closures include:
ß Hickson Road closed from Saturday, July 12.
ß George Street closed from 10am until midnight from Tuesday 15 to Friday 18 for the walking route.
ß Macquarie, College and other streets around Cook and Phillip Park closed from 8pm Monday, July 14.
ß Alison Rd Randwick closed from midnight Thursday, July 17 extending to all roads around Randwick Racecourse by 8pm Friday, July 18.
ß Anzac Parade and Cleveland St closed from 2am Saturday, July 19.
ß Harbour Bridge and approaches closed from 2am to 5pm Saturday, July 19.
Roads around St Mary’s Cathedral, near Randwick Racecourse, the Harbour Bridge and between Central Station and the event sites will be closed, but some closures will change daily as events and security arrangements change.
Visit the RTA website or call the Infoline 1300 360 933 for details and updates.
Sydney Harbour Bridge will be closed for a pilgrimage walk on Saturday, July 19. About 180,000 people will walk from North Sydney, over the Harbour Bridge, through Darling Harbour and then onto Royal Randwick Racecourse.
Special event clearways will extend as far as North Ryde to help traffic avoid the CBD and the bridge. There will be more than 300 road closures at various times, and more than 500 special event clearways.
