Pennant Hills Road regulation

The nine kilometre NorthConnex twin tunnel motorway is now open.

The $3 billion project has been delivered by Transurban in partnership with the Australian and NSW Governments.

Northconnex delivers faster, safer, more reliable and more efficient journeys for road users. It also returns local roads to local communities, improves air quality along Pennant Hills Road and reduces congestion and noise.

Changes to using Pennant Hills Road

Trucks and buses (over 12.5m long or over 2.8m clearance height) travelling between the M1 and M2 must use the tunnels unless they have a genuine pick up or delivery destination only accessible via Pennant Hills Road.

Two gantries monitor trucks and buses on Pennant Hills Road – in the north at Normanhurst and in the south at Beecroft / West Pennant Hills.

Cameras in the gantries record the height and length of trucks and buses.

Trucks and buses (over 12.5m long or over 2.8m clearance height) which pass both gantries with the flow of traffic will receive a fine of $215 with no loss of demerit points.

Who can use Pennant Hills Road?

You WILL NOT be able to use Pennant Hills Road between the M1 and M2 (unless you have a local destination only accessible by Pennant Hills Road) if you are a:

  • truck or bus over 12.5m long
  • truck or bus over 2.8m clearance height
  • a Class 1 vehicle up to: 2.5 metres wide; and 4.6 metres clearance height; and 25 metres long
  • a Class 2 or 3 vehicle (which may currently be operating under a permit or notice approved to use Pennant Hills Road but will no longer be permitted once NorthConnex opens)

You WILL be able to use Pennant Hills Road OR NorthConnex if you are a:

  • truck or bus 12.5m long or less and 2.8m clearance height or less
  • truck or bus (over 12.5m long or over 2.8 m clearance height) with a pick up or delivery destination only accessible by Pennant Hills Road
  • recreational vehicle (eg. motorhome or car towing a caravan, trailer, boat or horse float)
  • light vehicle (eg. car)
  • emergency service vehicle

You WILL ONLY be able to use Pennant Hills Road NOT NorthConnex if you are:

  • a vehicle transporting a placard load of dangerous goods
  • an oversize vehicle operating under a Class 1 permit or notice approved to use Pennant Hills Road
  • a vehicle transporting explosives in any quantities under Clause 89 (3) of the Explosives Regulation 2013 of divisions 1.1, 1.2 and 1.5.

Planning your trip

If you are a truck or bus driver, you will need to know your vehicle dimensions and plan your trip.

The warning sign 'No trucks and buses on Pennant Hills Road between M1 & M2' with length and height restrictions is in place on approach to NorthConnex, giving you plenty of time to choose the correct route or lane.

If you are a truck or bus driver view or download our Guide to using NorthConnex for trucks and buses (PDF, 2.63 MB).

If you are a recreational vehicle driver view or download our Guide to using NorthConnex for recreational vehicles (PDF, 3.24 MB).

Working with industry

To ensure the road freight and bus industry have planned for the new regulation, we have shared information well ahead of the opening of NorthConnex.

NorthConnex tunnel and ramp closure

In the event of a NorthConnex tunnel on/off ramp closure (due to, for example, an incident or for scheduled maintenance), trucks and buses over 12.5 metres in length and 2.8 metres in height will not be fined for using Pennant Hills Road, where the diversion is via Pennant Hills Road to join the M1 at Wahroonga or M2 at West Pennant Hills.

Is there an Exemption List for Trucks and Buses?

No. There are no exemptions, or applications for an exemption list, for trucks and buses using Pennant Hills Road.

Trucks and buses (over 12.5 metres long or over 2.8 metres clearance height) travelling between the M1 and M2 cannot use Pennant Hills Road unless you have a genuine delivery or pick up destination only accessible via Pennant Hills Road.

If you are stopping on Pennant Hills Road to make deliveries, between the M1 to the M2, then you will not be fined, as you will not be passing through both gantry points (north and south) with the flow of traffic, as your destination is on Pennant Hills Road or only accessible by Pennant Hills Road.

Therefore no fines will apply.

However, if you do not have a destination along, or only accessible by, Pennant Hills Road, then you will need to use NorthConnex.

Documents

Guide to using NorthConnex for trucks and buses (PDF, 2.63 MB)

Guide to using NorthConnex for recreational vehicles (PDF, 3.24 MB)