Summernats: Road Closures, Transit Changes Announced

The Summernats car festival will be held from Thursday 2 January to Sunday 5 January 2025 at Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC).

A number of road closures and changed traffic arrangements will be in place for the event which includes a City Cruise along Northbourne Avenue on the afternoon of Thursday 2 January 2025.

City Cruise impacts

• The Summernats City Cruise will be held onThursday 2 January 2025 from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm.
• Rolling closures will be in place on the Federal Highway (southbound) from the Antill Street roundabout and Northbourne Avenue (southbound) to the intersection with London Circuit.
• Northbound traffic will also be impacted with rolling closures on Northbourne Avenue between the intersections with London Circuit and Flemington Road.
• The rolling closures will close intersections as the cruise passes and this will apply to all traffic including motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.
• Traffic management including signage and detours will be in place.
• Delays are expected and road users should seek an alternate route where possible.
• Light rail services will not be operating between Alinga Street and Sandford Street stops from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm.
• Light rail services will continue to operate between Gungahlin Place and Sandford Street only during these times:
  • The last direct northbound service travelling from Alinga Street to Gungahlin Place will depart at 11:40 am. The first direct service will resume at 1:00 pm.
  • The last direct southbound service travelling from Gungahlin Place to Alinga Street will depart at 11:40 am. The first direct service will resume at 12:50 pm.

Summernats Fringe Festival impacts

• The Summernats Fringe Festival will be held nightly on Thursday 2, Friday 3 and Saturday 4 January 2025 from 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm on Lonsdale Street, Braddon.
• Lonsdale Street and sections of surrounding Mort Street, Elouera Street and Torrens Street will be closed from 3:00 pm to midnight on Thursday 2, Friday 3, and Saturday 4 January 2025 to support the Summernats Fringe Festival.

Other closures

• The EPIC Park and Ride will be closed from 7:00 am on Thursday 2 January 2025 until 7:00 pm on Sunday 5 January 2025.
• Users of the EPIC Park and Ride are asked to use nearby facilities at Well Station Drive and Swinden Street.
• Flemington Road will be closed between the Federal Highway and Randwick Road from:
  • 7:00 am to 11:59 pm on Thursday 2 January 2025
  • 7:00 am on Friday 3 January to 1:00 am on Saturday 4 January 2025
  • 7:00 am on Saturday 4 January to 1:00 am on Sunday 5 January 2025
  • 7:00 am to 7:00 pm on Sunday 5 January 2025.

Changes to bus services

• Due to road closures in place, bus route 18 will be diverted from the first service on Thursday 2 January to the last service on Sunday 5 January 2025.
• Bus stops on Sandford Street, Philip Avenue on the Federal Highway and at Bimberi Youth Justice Centre will not be serviced during the event.
• Temporary bus stops will be installed at the end of Hoskins Street before Sandford Street.

Changes to light rail services

• There will be increased frequency to light rail services during the peak event hours on Friday 3 and Saturday 4 January 2025.
  • Friday 3 January 2025, from 6:30 pm to 11:30 pm.
  • Saturday 4 January 2025, from 8:30 am to 11:30 pm.

Journey planning

• Summernats attendees are encouraged to rethink their routines and use public transport to travel to Summernats at EPIC and the Summernats Fringe Festival on Lonsdale Street.
• Regular fares apply for all light rail and bus services. MyWay+ offers new ways to pay for public transport, including physical and digital Mastercard and Visa bank cards, a MyWay+ pass (MyWay+ app QR code ticket), MyWay+ travel card or a single use ticket from a ticket vending machine (currently being installed across the network).
• Passengers can also enjoy fare free travel on Friday 3 January 2025 as part of the 'Fare free Fridays' initiative. Passengers simply need to tap on and off with their preferred payment method and no fare will be applied.
• Passenger can plan ahead with Transport Canberra's new real time journey planner on our website or download the MyWay+ app on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.