Heavy Delays on Commonwealth Avenue and Mitchell Arteries This Easter Saturday

Significant Traffic Congestion Expected Today

As Canberra enters the heart of the Easter long weekend, commuters and visitors should prepare for significant travel delays today, Saturday, 4 April 2026. The combination of major infrastructure projects and the 60th-anniversary celebrations of the National Folk Festival is expected to put high pressure on the city's main arterial roads, particularly around the City and North Canberra.

Major Disruptions: Commonwealth Avenue Bridge and City West

The most substantial delays are anticipated on Commonwealth Avenue. Following the closure of the northbound bridge span earlier this year, all traffic in both directions is currently being diverted onto the southbound span. A strict 40km/h speed limit is in place across the bridge. With a high volume of holiday traffic expected to cross Lake Burley Griffin today, motorists should allow at least an extra 20 to 30 minutes for their journey.

• Lane Reductions: Commonwealth Avenue northbound is further reduced to a single lane between the Parkes Way on-ramp and Vernon Circle due to Light Rail Stage 2A track installation works.
• London Circuit: The western side of London Circuit remains closed to all through-traffic. Motorists are advised to use Cooyong Street or Constitution Avenue as alternatives for cross-city travel.

National Folk Festival and Mitchell Congestion

In North Canberra, the National Folk Festival at Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC) is drawing thousands of visitors today. Expect heavy congestion on Flemington Road and Northbourne Avenue. Traffic is likely to peak between 9:00 am and 11:00 am, coinciding with both festival entries and the Capital Region Farmers Market.

• Parking Warning: Parking at EPIC is limited. Authorities recommend using the Light Rail or the dedicated festival shuttle bus services to avoid gridlock around Mitchell.
• Northbourne Avenue: Traffic is reduced to two lanes each way between Alinga Street and Vernon Circle to accommodate ongoing light rail utility upgrades.

Public Transport and Special Services

Transport Canberra is operating on a regular Saturday timetable today. While this offers more frequent service than the Sunday/Holiday timetable used on Good Friday, passengers should still check for potential delays on routes passing through the City and Mitchell. The Light Rail will maintain its high-frequency Saturday schedule to help ferry festival-goers to the EPIC and Racecourse stop.

Local Event Hotspots

Motorists should also be aware of local congestion in Symonston due to the Easter Night Trains at the Canberra Miniature Railway and near Braddon for the Haig Park Village Markets. If you are heading to Bungendore, the Easter Steam Train will be departing from Kingston Station, which may cause minor localized delays on Wentworth Avenue throughout the morning.