Easter Monday: Rail Replacements and Heavy Return Traffic Forecast

Public Holiday Travel and Rail Disruptions

As the Sunshine Coast wraps up the Easter long weekend today, Monday, 6 April 2026, commuters and travelers should prepare for significant disruptions to public transport and heavy congestion on major southbound arteries. With today being Easter Monday, a public holiday, transport services will operate on a modified schedule, but the most critical update involves a total suspension of train services on the northern end of the network.

Major Rail Closure: Buses Replace Trains

The Sunshine Coast line remains heavily impacted by planned maintenance and infrastructure upgrades associated with the Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade Stage 1 and Cross River Rail supporting works. For the duration of today, buses will replace trains between Gympie North and Caboolture stations. Commuters traveling toward Brisbane will need to transfer to rail replacement buses at their local stations to reach Caboolture, where train services to the city resume. TransLink has advised that these replacement services may take significantly longer than the standard rail journey, so please allow at least 45 to 60 minutes of additional travel time.

Heavy Holiday Return Traffic on the Bruce Highway

Traffic authorities are forecasting heavy congestion on the Bruce Highway starting from late morning and peaking in the mid-afternoon. As holidaymakers return south toward Brisbane, bottlenecks are expected at the usual merging points, particularly near the Johnston Road interchange and the Caloundra Road exit. If you are planning to travel south today, consider leaving before 10:00 AM or after 7:00 PM to avoid the heaviest delays. Local routes, including Nicklin Way and Sunshine Motorway, are also expected to see higher-than-average volume around popular coastal precincts.

Local Roadworks and Ongoing Projects

Several local road projects and maintenance works continue to affect traffic flow across the region today:

• Bli Bli: Asphalt resurfacing on David Low Way continues near the Bli Bli Road roundabout. While most heavy work is scheduled for night shifts, temporary lane closures and detours may remain in place during the day.
• Mooloolaba Road: Intersection upgrades between Buderim and Mooloolaba are ongoing. Expect partial lane closures and reduced speed limits in this area.
• Steve Irwin Way: Increased construction vehicle movements are expected between Beerburrum and Beerwah as part of the rail duplication project. Motorists are urged to exercise caution and adhere to posted speed reductions.
• Nambour: Ancillary works on Currie Street may cause minor delays and restricted parking near the town center.
• Glass House Mountains: Moffatt Road remains closed to through traffic between Steve Irwin Way and Anderson Road, with local detours clearly signed.

Stay safe on the roads this Easter Monday, and remember to check for real-time updates via the QLDTraffic app before starting your journey.