Traffic chaos looms with WYD

By Mick Roberts

Road closures during the week-long World Youth Day (WYD) event are expected to result in major disruptions for city residents and businesses.
With 500,000 visitors descending on the city, authorities have warned motorists to take public transport or consider leaving the city altogether.
To cater for the event and Police security requests, Sydney will lose at least a third of the city’s ability to carry traffic with the extent of road closures.
NSW Transport Minister John Watkins has urged CBD businesses and workers to consider taking leave or working from home over the event.
‘Special event clearways and road closures to deal with the huge number of visitors and the security arrangements 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,’ Mr Watkins said.
The Minister said the road closures are complex and include significant parts of the CBD, around St Mary’s Cathedral, near Randwick Racecourse, the Harbour Bridge and between Central Station and the event sites.
There will be more than 300 road closures at various times, and more than 500 special event clearways.
Sydney Chamber of Commerce boss Patricia Forsythe said WYD is a positive event which will have an estimated economic benefit of $231 million.
‘However when you have up to 500,000 people descending on the CBD for this event, there is a need for traffic control and there will be some inconveniences for people traveling and working in the city,’ Ms Forsythe said.
‘This event is occurring during the school holiday period in which the CBD would naturally be quieter than normal and should help limit the inconvenience to Sydneysiders.
‘I like to believe that like the Olympics, APEC and other events, our transport network will be able to cope with the additional pressure as people leave their cars at home.’
Ms Forsythe said she was assured that deliveries for CBD businesses should still be possible overnight or before 10am.
For further information on traffic changes visit the RTA website or call the Infoline 1300 360 933 for details.