News
13 November, 2025
Traders call for support as roadworks commence
Major roadworks will commence on the Hume Highway near Marulan this week with local traders fearing it will devastate their Christmas trade.
Major roadworks will commence on the Hume Highway near Marulan this week with local traders fearing it will devastate their Christmas trade.
Many have taken to social media to ask for support while the works are being carried out and warn some businesses may ‘break’.
Southbound access to Marulan will be closed for six weeks with motorists detouring via Jerrara Road.
Traders fear motorists will simply keep driving and they will miss out on much-needed business at their most important time of the year.
Goulburn-Mulwaree Council is reassuring people that Marulan will be “still open for business” and while a trip into the town might take longer than usual it is “absolutely worth the effort”.
It is encouraging people to explore “everything Marulan has to offer” and is advising visitors that if they add a few minutes to their trip down the Hume Highway “there’s plenty to do before you hit the road again to your final destination”.
As part of the project, Transport for NSW will be replacing concrete pavement slabs with asphalt on the southbound lanes from Highland Way, 1.1km south.
Work will be carried out from Monday, November 10 to Thursday, December 18. Workers will be on site 24 hours a day Monday to Friday and between 7am and 7pm on Sundays.
Southbound traffic will be diverted onto northbound lanes under contraflow traffic control and a reduced speed limit of 80km/h will be in place.
Southbound access into the centre of Marulan (Brayton Road) will be closed and detours will be in place via Jerrara Road.
Southbound entry onto the Hume Highway from the centre of Marulan (Brayton Road) will also be closed. Detours will be in place at Highland Way and Eagles Lane.
Transport for NSW is warning of lengthy delays and motorists are being advised to add up to 20 minutes’ additional travel time on weekdays and 30 minutes on weekends.
Transport for NSW Executive Director Partnerships and Integration South, Cassandra Ffrench, said rehabilitation works using high-strength asphalt instead of concrete would help improve the highway’s long-term performance.
“High-strength asphalt offers a faster construction time as it can be laid and re-opened to traffic more quickly than concrete,” Ms Ffrench said.
“It also provides greater flexibility for future maintenance, helping ensure a smoother and more efficient travel experience for motorists,” she said.
Transport for NSW has described the works as “essential” but traders say it should have carried out at a different time of the year.
They say they were only advised of the works in late October – after they had bought stock and hired staff for the busy pre-Christmas period.
One described November/December as her busiest time of the year and doubts motorists will use the detour.
The Marulan Emporium said it supported safer roads – but roadworks were “quietly destroying the livelihoods of small local retailers”.
“Here in Marulan, every detour and barrier makes it harder for visitors to reach our town and support the businesses that keep this community alive,” the Emporium owners said.
“Every roadblock, detour and construction zone does means fewer customers, less income and another small business on the brink, fighting to stay open and save jobs.”
Transport for NSW has advised that the southbound Heavy Vehicle Safety Station at Marulan will be closed for the duration of the work. The northbound station will remain open.
Over size mass (OSOM) vehicles wider than 4.5 metres should use designated pull over areas and contact UHF channel 21 to arrange safe passage through the work zone.
More information about the project is available at https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/marulan-bypass-pavement-repairs
Read More: Marulan, Goulburn, Southern Tablelands