Sydney Airport entry road changes

[Melburnian1]

With the 14 October road changes affecting road routes like Robey and O'Riordan Streets for travellers, staff and delivery vehicles bound for Sydney Airport's domestic or international terminals having been in place for three weeks, have the alterations facilitated better traffic movement, hindered it or been neutral?

I don't often enter or exit SYD by car, preferring the Airport Link train. I ask just out of interest as from media, traffic delays have at times been notorious.

 

[JohnK]

In my opinion the traffic flow seems much better and it takes considerably less time to enter/exit T2/T3 but I'm hardly there during peak times.

I'm still not sure about international terminal. I'm there again in 2 days time for a 4:00pm flight and expect delays as usual.

 

[eric2011]

Just dropped off a car at Avis (8.00am) and was straight through and in although I still enter the airport area via the road past general aviation and the RFDS. Didn't even stop once this morning

 

[Melburnian1]

JohnK and eric2011, thanks. eric2011, bear in mind that today is a much quieter day business-wise in Melbourne as it's Cup Day tomorrow and hence many have the day off work, presumably meaning a reduction in numbers flying Australia's busiest air route today and hence less road traffic in and around Sydney Airport.

 

[eric2011]

SYD was a zoo early this morning as the place was closed for 2 hours due to weather. My flight was 2 hours late to BNE

 

[eric2011]

.....as it's Cup Day tomorrow .

Cup? what cup

 

[Berlin]

Does anyone know what exactly they are doing there at Sydney International, I've been wondering...? Is this a proper road widening towards the soon-ish to be broadened M5 or rather just yet another ploy to somehow charge for additional parking or preferred access or whatever? A toll road maybe to get to the super-discounted parking? You never know with Sydney airport...

What the domestic terminals are concerned, I rather had endless queues lately. But I'm sure it will get better once it's all finished.

 

[Milboo]

Traffic reports in the morning always seem to feature delays around the airport. Last couple of weekends have had delays around International too.

They are doing work on the bit between the M5 exit and the terminal.

A few weeks back trying to get from the car park to the terminal (departures) was a nightmare - to keep traffic moving they were holding the pedestrians for ages and crowds were getting 50 plus deep and not enough time to all cross. I've never seen traffic like it up there.

 

[big_RED]

Sorry for bringing up an old post, but I find the traffic entering the Sydney International Departures drop off area just crazy.
I've had to drop off relatives 4 times this year, and without a lie, every time we get within 500m of the drop off ramp the traffic is at a standstill or crawl for literally 20+ minutes.

This is on Airport Drive, after it changes name from Qantas Drive.

What is everyone elses experience with this? And are there any tricks or better routers to take?

 

[kevrosmith]

Sorry for bringing up an old post, but I find the traffic entering the Sydney International Departures drop off area just crazy.
I've had to drop off relatives 4 times this year, and without a lie, every time we get within 500m of the drop off ramp the traffic is at a standstill or crawl for literally 20+ minutes.

This is on Airport Drive, after it changes name from Qantas Drive.

What is everyone elses experience with this? And are there any tricks or better routers to take?

I know not quite ideal, but could you drop them at either Mascot or Domestic train station and they do the train over to International? It’s only ~$9 from Mascot or ~$6 from domestic. The weekends are the worst for traffic to International terminal because everyone in Sydney thinks everyone else is home having a sleep in on the weekend and thinks that traffic will be better than weekdays.... (hint, it’s not).

Or alternatively, head for the 15 minute free car park rather than curbside drop off. Sure, it’s a bit more of a walk, but you’ll probably find it much faster.

The days of drop-off 5 metres from the door at airports around the country are coming to an end, and people are not adjusting very well so far.

 

[JohnK]

What is everyone elses experience with this? And are there any tricks or better routers to take?

International departures has been a mess for a long time.

One option is to go via General Holmes Drive and M5 East but then Marsh St can just as easily be as bad. If minimal luggage you can drop them off near the Mercure and from there about 10 minute walk to departures.

 

[big_RED]

All good suggestions. Getting the train or dropping them off nearby. I suppose for me, the point of driving them is to wish them well for their travels or to thank them once again for coming to Australia for a holiday.

I think using the "15min free carpark" is a great idea so I'll try that next time!

I just love it how the drop off zone has so many traffic managers waving everyone on, yet they aren't making a difference whatsoever.

 

[kevrosmith]

All good suggestions. Getting the train or dropping them off nearby. I suppose for me, the point of driving them is to wish them well for their travels or to thank them once again for coming to Australia for a holiday.

I think using the "15min free carpark" is a great idea so I'll try that next time!

I just love it how the drop off zone has so many traffic managers waving everyone on, yet they aren't making a difference whatsoever.

The main reason the traffic managers were implemented is because everyone wanted to stop in the first 50 metres, and so it becomes very congested, while the remaining 500 metres of curbside (after the pedestrian crossing) remained vacant. In the end, it's a very difficult situation. The number of vehicles being processed through the Departures drop-off road has increased over 100% in the last 12 months. You wouldn't believe the number of vehicles using that road in an hour if you saw the figures. In fairness to Sydney Airport, at the same time, while the volume has increased, the congestion has not risen to the same degree.

When you think that an extra 1 million international passengers went through SYD in 2017 compared to 2016, that's an extra ~2,700 pax more each day. And with more than 50% of pax getting to the airport in vehicles, you can hopefully understand why there's problems.

However, they are doing a whole lot of road works and flyovers to remove traffic weaving for the exits (onto Marsh St and Airport Drive) and now also for the entries, particularly from Airport Drive. Once that is complete, my recommendation would be to follow the signs to the Express Drop off and you'll fly straight over to Centre Road and into the Car park with little delay (fingers-crossed).

 

[JohnK]

When you think that an extra 1 million international passengers went through SYD in 2017 compared to 2016, that's an extra ~2,700 pax more each day. And with more than 50% of pax getting to the airport in vehicles, you can hopefully understand why there's problems.

There wouldn't be problems in the first place if they hadn't made all those changes trying to funnel everyone away from departures and into the car park.