Because if you’re one of the thousands of motorists that use the Emile Serisier Bridge each day, you may want to look at making some different plans on Thursday.

A flood watch has been issued for the Macquarie River, with an expected peak of eight metres at some stage in the early hours of Thursday, and if that happens the low-level bridge that joins West Dubbo to North Dubbo will be closed to traffic.

Western Plains Regional Council has announced significant traffic changes are expected following the warnings issued by the SES which will potentially cause flooding to Bligh Street, the closure of the Emile Serisier Bridge as well as local roads in Wellington and the wider Western Plains Regional Council area.

Should the projected peak, which is 1.7m lower than the maximum 2010 level, be reached residents will be faced with scenes similar to those last seen in December of that year when flooding created significant traffic issues on the LH Ford Bridge and proved the catalyst for the planned construction of a ‘replica’ version of the city’s main bridge.

Western Plains Regional Council is working with the SES to prepare alternative routes and asks all motorists to observe directional signs and detours set up to divert traffic around closed roads.

In Dubbo it is expected that Bligh Street will be closed at the intersection of Erskine Street in the north through to the intersection with Macquarie Street in the south. Access to Bligh Street from Bultje Street, Wingewarra Street, Church Street and Talbragar Street will also be closed.

If the Macquarie River reaches the height predicted and the Serisier Bridge is closed, traffic will be diverted over the LH Ford Bridge, along Cobra Street through to Fitzroy Street to access the northern parts of the CBD.

Various local roads will be closed in order to facilitate heavy traffic along the main arterial roads.

In Wellington, council crews are also on standby to put in place local road diversions and to work with the State Emergency Services and Road and Maritime Services to arrange road closures and diversions as required.

Road closures will be reviewed as further information on flood conditions becomes available.

Late on Wednesday pedestrian and cycleway bridges on the Tracker Riley Cycleway were closed. These are the Yabang Gee Bridge on the lower part of Tamworth Street and the Shibble Bridge near Dundullimal Reserve.