Sculpture by the Sea to attract record crowds

About 500,000 people are expected to flock to Sculpture by the Sea over the coming weeks, with heavy traffic and delays anticipated in Sydney's east.

This year marks the 21st anniversary of the public art event which begins today and features more than 100 sculptures along the two-kilometre stretch of coast from Bondi Beach to Tamarama Beach.

Organisers will be crossing their fingers for good weather, given the high tides and swells that caused havoc last year.

In light of the king tide event, Waverley Council said there had been a more conservative approach regarding the placement of installations on the rocks and beach, including deeper footings in the sand.

Artists have been drawn from as far afield as South Korea, the Czech Republic, Denmark and Japan.

For the first time since James Dive exhibited the now iconic melted ice-cream truck, Hot with the Chance of a Late Storm, in 2006, the artist is back with a fibreglass hamburger on a fishing line, a humorous piece of social-environmental commentary.

Simon Rathlou has reproduced an old green and gold tram to mark the return of light rail to Sydney's streets while China's Xia Hang has built a cyborg mosquito that conveys worries about the shape and nature of robotic weaponry.

Organisers have warned those attending to catch public transport as roads will be congested and parking limited.

Visitors have been advised to consider walking the three kilometres from Bondi Junction station to Bondi Beach to avoid the anticipated traffic gridlock.

There will also be road closures in place on streets close to coastal walk from today until November 5.

Special event clearways will be in place along Bondi Road on Saturdays and Sundays.

Rainy weather forecast for Friday might keep the crowds down but the Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting mostly fine conditions over the weekend when numbers are expected to surge.