Sydney protest to shut Harbour Bridge for 5 hours on Sunday; see which roads, buses, ferries and metro lines are affected

The Sydney Harbour Bridge will close in both directions for five hours this Sunday, August 3, from approximately 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. AEST. The closure is to facilitate a large-scale pro-Palestine march that has received legal clearance from the New South Wales Supreme Court.

The event, expected to draw up to 50,000 participants, will significantly affect road and public transport networks across Sydney.

TransportNSW urges motorists and public transport users to avoid non-essential travel through the CBD and North Sydney during this time.

Sydney Harbour Bridge protest road closure update

The closure of the Harbour Bridge will impact several connecting routes. Delays could also spill over into surrounding areas.

Transport for NSW suggests using the Gladesville Bridge and Victoria Road as alternatives for essential journeys, especially to Sydney Airport from the north shore. Major congestion is expected on:

• Sydney Harbour Tunnel
  
  
• Western Distributor
  
  
• Anzac Bridge
  
  
• Rozelle Interchange
  
  
• Eastern Distributor
  
  
• Gore Hill Freeway
  
  
• Lane Cove Tunnel
  

Public transport disruptions

Buses that normally cross the Harbour Bridge will terminate at North Sydney or Wynyard during the closure. Travellers should expect significant crowding at those stations and on nearby platforms.

Additional transport changes on Sunday include:

• Metro: No services between Tallawong and Sydenham due to trackwork. Buses will replace services between Tallawong and Chatswood. Trains remain available between Chatswood, the City, and Sydenham.
  
  
• Trains: Replacement buses will run between Central and Bondi Junction on the T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line and the South Coast Line.
  
  
• Light Rail: L2 Randwick and L3 Kingsford services will stop at Town Hall from 12 pm and resume once deemed safe.
  
  
• Ferries: Services may face overcrowding as commuters shift to alternative transport.
  

Court-approved Sydney Harbour protest to go ahead

The New South Wales Supreme Court granted permission for the march, reversing earlier police objections. Justice Belinda Rigg noted that the protest is driven by the belief that the “horror and urgency of the situation in Gaza demands an urgent and extraordinary response.”

The Palestine Action Group, which is organising the protest, described the event on social media as an “immense march for humanity.”

Transport for NSW and authorities urge the public to monitor live updates, follow directions from tunnel operators in case of queuing, and allow extra travel time across the city.