Sydneysiders are being urged to avoid non-essential travel into the city this weekend, with major road closures and multiple events expected to cause disruption.
On Sunday, three public assemblies — the Palestine Action Group, March for Freedom, and the Refugee Action Coalition — are scheduled to take place alongside Australia’s largest marathon.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Sydney’s super Sunday chaos looms.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today
A mini marathon on Saturday will also result in road closures.
Acting deputy commissioner Peter McKenna said they should not come across one another, and up to 1000 officers have been deployed to the city to ensure public safety.
“My message to people coming to these public assemblies, or even coming into the city this weekend, on Sunday in particular, is to follow police directions,” he said.
Three public assemblies — the Palestine Action Group, the Refugee Action Coalition, and March for Freedom — are scheduled to take place on Sunday. Credit: 7NEWS McKenna said protest organisers had promised not to cause trouble but to make their voices heard.
“We hope they are true to their word, and we will work with them in that respect,” he said.
“But if people do act out or act violently or do anything else, we’ll be out prepared for them.
“People can have their ideologies, what they can’t do is commit offences.”
One of the rallies — March for Freedom, opposing Australia’s immigration levels — has drawn criticism from NSW Premier Chris Minns.
“I’d say it’s the last thing that we need in Sydney,” Minns said.
“I think it’s strange that you would have a protest where no-one’s even owning up to who’s organising it.”
Authorities are urging participants and spectators to use public transport, arrive early and allow extra travel time.
Coordinator-General of Transport NSW Howard Collins said there would be additional metro services but some delays across the network and buses in the city will be diverting and using different stops.
He strongly advised against driving, warning of significant road closures — including the Harbour Bridge.
The TCS Sydney Marathon, the newest member of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, is expected to draw 35,000 runners, along with thousands of volunteers and spectators.
The event kicks off at 6.30am on Sunday, with arrivals from 5am and a cut-off time of 3.15pm.
The TCS Sydney Marathon covers 42.195km, stretching from North Sydney to Centennial Park. Credit: TCS Traffic will be affected between 2am and 4pm, with road closures spanning the 42-kilometre course from North Sydney to Centennial Park.
“Roads are closed longer this year to accommodate the increased number of participants,” Transport for NSW said.
Special event clearways will also be in place from 12.01am Sunday along and around the course.
Vehicles left in a clearway risk being towed, with towing and storage fees applying, in addition to any parking fines issued by police or council rangers.
Cross City Tunnel is open and toll free from 5am to 4.30pm so drivers can travel east/west across the course in the city’s north.
Impacted areas include North Sydney, the Sydney CBD, Pyrmont, Darlinghurst, Moore Park, Centennial Park and Kingsford.
Road closures on Saturday Key roads in the Sydney CBD will be closed, with special event clearways in effect from 2am to 10am.
Affected areas include sections of Macquarie St, including on and off ramps to Cahill Expressway, Art Gallery Rd, Mrs Macquaries Rd and College St.
Buses entering the city during this period will be diverted and will use alternative stops.
Road closures on Sunday 3am to 11am: The Sydney Harbour Bridge and Western Distributor will be closed in both directions, with no direct access between the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Anzac Bridge during this time.
4am to 3.30pm: Major roads from the city to Moore Park will be closed including Oxford St, while Park St and Flinders St will be closed until 3pm.
5am to 1.30pm: Anzac Pde from Moore Park to Kingsford will be closed.
From 1pm: Motorists can use Dacey Ave/Alison Pde to travel east or west across the course.
The Eastern Distributor Anzac Pde entry and exit will be closed, however the Bondi Moore Park Rd exit will remain open.
Macquarie St and roads in The Domain will remain closed until 4pm.
Buses and light rail will also be affected on Sunday.
Before 11am: L2 Randwick and L3 Kingsford Line light rail services will not run between Circular Quay and Town Hall.
6am to 1.30pm: L3 Kingsford Line services will run from Moore Park only, services will not run from Kingsford due to closures of Anzac Pde.
3am to 11am: B uses will start and end trips either side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Crows Nest or St Leonards and Town Hall or Wynyard. Passengers will need to change for a metro or train service to continue across the bridge.
3am to 4pm: Buses between the city and south east will be diverting around major closures of Oxford St and Anzac Pde or terminating trips early at light rail stops.