A new interchange on the M1 Princes Motorway at the base of Mount Ousley, NSW, will include two new truck safety ramps and heavy vehicle-only bypass lanes, separating cars from trucks.
Detailed design work by Fulton Hogan and Transport for NSW on the $390 million project will start early in 2024 with the interchange expected to take about four years to finish, weather permitting.
The federal government is committing $240 million to the overhaul of one of regional NSW’s most notorious intersections, with the rest coming from the state.
Early work will start in the coming months, including survey and geotechnical investigations, utility relocation and vegetation clearing.
Major work is expected to start in late 2024 and the project is expected to take about four years to complete, weather permitting.
“Separating cars and heavy vehicles travelling southbound is a unique feature that will provide a safer environment for everyone using the road,” said federal infrastructure minister Catherine King.
An estimated five million tonnes of freight travel the M1 Princes Motorway each year, as one of the main road freight corridors to and from the Illawarra-Shoalhaven region.
“It is the economic artery that ensures products like new cars, trucks and buses from the port make their way to the showroom floor and BlueScope’s world class steel can find its way to market,” said Cunningham MP Alison Byrnes.
“The Australian and NSW governments’ significant joint investment in this project show that we understand this is a busy and vital route for visitors to the region, locals, business and the freight industry.”
Other features include:
- new commuter car park and separate incident response facility
- upgrades and widening of the existing pedestrian bridge over the motorway at Northfields Avenue
- two new intersections and bridges over the motorway for improved access between Mount Ousley Road, Princes Motorway and University of Wollongong
- improved pedestrian and cyclist connectivity on existing shared paths and a new shared path along Old Mount Ousley Road
- five metre noise walls along the northern side of the motorway and the southern side of Dumfries Avenue; and along the southern side of the motorway and northern side of Falder Place
- three and a half metre noise wall along the southern side of Mount Ousley Road, between Gowan Brae Avenue and the cul-de-sac at the western end.