Traffic delays expected for Bathurst 1000 with major highway still shut

More than 200,000 motor racing fans are expected to attend the Bathurst 1000 this weekend but transport authorities are warning major traffic delays are inevitable. 

On Monday, drivers heading from Central West NSW were backed up for about 12 kilometres heading into Lithgow, blowing out trips over the Blue Mountains by several hours. 

The main route to the region, the Great Western Highway at Victoria Pass, has been shut since March, pushing all traffic onto the Darling Causeway and Bells Line of Road.

With racegoers from Sydney forced onto a single road through Lithgow to get to and from Bathurst, the gridlock this weekend is expected to be far worse. 

"Expect big queues," Transport for NSW's coordinator-general Howard Collins said. 

The four-day event kicks off with practice laps on Thursday ahead of the main race on Sunday, which will pay tribute to racing legend Peter Brock, who died 20 years ago. 

Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW) is urging drivers to allow extra travel time for the expected traffic. 

Alternative routes to avoid crossing the Blue Mountains have been suggested, such as using the Golden Highway from the north or the Hume Highway via Goulburn. 

"It's going to be slow in both directions through the diversion from Mount Victoria," TfNSW's Howard Collins said. 

"It might be frustrating, but be patient with everyone around you."

TfNSW has deployed drones and additional tow trucks to monitor conditions and deal with breakdowns and accidents.

'Pilgrimage' to Mount Panorama

Some fans have followed the authorities' advice to arrive early and have already set up camp on Mount Panorama. 

"The pilgrimage is on," Bathurst Regional Council Mayor Ben Fry said. 

"People are coming into our city, our region sooner; they know that there's going to be delays, they're taking it easy," he said. 

The council will put on a concert on Monday night in a bid to convince people to spend another night out west, staggering the number of fans heading home.

The concert will be headlined by Australian rock bands The Angels and The Choirboys, and is supported by $185,000 in state government funding. 

Campers on the mountain and at council-run sites have been given the option to stay longer than the traditional departure time of midday on Monday. 

"We're trying to ease the traffic flow, the egress, out of Bathurst for our neighbours in Lithgow," Cr Fry said. 

A major high-visibility police operation began today and will continue through until Monday, with local officers assisted by specialist teams from Sydney.

Assistant Commissioner Greg Moore said police will be out targeting speeding, drink-driving, fatigue and dangerous driver behaviour. 

"We will be surging in hundreds of extra police as we do every year to make sure this family-friendly event is safe and secure," Assistant Commisioner Moore said.