Main construction contract awarded for Tripoli Way Extension project

The Shellharbour City Council has awarded the main construction contract for the Tripoli Way Extension to Haslin Constructions, marking a major milestone on this transformational project.

Extending Tripoli Way has been talked about since 1961 and its delivery has ramped up significantly since the Minns Labor Government invested $40 million towards the project.

The Tripoli Way Extension will support East-West connectivity and enable motorists to bypass the Albion Park town centre, helping reduce congestion while supporting the rapidly growing communities of Albion Park and Calderwood.

"This is another major milestone for a proejct that will make a real difference for families across this much-loved region.

"As more people choose to call the Illawarra home, we need to make sure the infrastructure keeps pace with that growth," Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast Ryan Park said.

"Getting the Tripoli Way Extension contract locked in is a big step forward for our community and something we've been working towards for a long time.

"It's going to make a real difference to how people move around Albion Park, Tullimbar and Calderwood, providing an alternative route around the Albion Park town centre and helping traffic move more efficiently as these communities continue to grow.

"This is about making sure we've got the right infrastructure in place as our community grows. The Tripoli Way Extension will improve everyday travel for locals and help build a stronger, more connected transport network for years to come," Mayor of Shellharbour City Council Chris Homer said.

"People in Albion Park and Calderwood have waited a long time to see real progress on Tripoli Way.

"This project will make everyday trips easier for local families, improve connections to the Illawarra Highway and help keep through traffic out of the Albion Park town centre.

"It is fantastic to see another major milestone reached, with construction now firmly on the horizon," Member for Kiama Katelin McInerney said.

Project designs have been finalised and major electrical and utility relocations are completed, paving the way for construction to begin by the end of this year.

Key features of the project include:

• A two-kilometre road corridor
• A 30-metre bridge over Hazelton Creek
• Three signalised intersections
• Four traffic lanes between Terry Street and Moles Street
• Two traffic lanes between Moles Street and Broughton Avenue
• Connections to the Illawarra Highway delivered in collaboration with Transport for NSW

The Tripoli Way Extension project is jointly funded by the New South Wales Government and Shellharbour City Council.

"The Illawarra is growing, and projects like the Tripoli Way Extension are critical to making sure that our infrastructure grows with it.

"Better connections between Albion Park, Calderwood and the Illawarra Highway will help take pressure off local roads and support new homes and this growing community.

"This is the kind of investment that helps make sure growth is supported by the roads and infrastructure people rely on every day," Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said.

"The Tripoli Way Extension will give drivers a more direct connection between Albion Park, Calderwood and the Illawarra Highway, while helping reduce congestion through the Albion Park town centre.

"Thanks to the advocacy of Katelin McInerney, the Minns Labor Government has committed $40 million to help get this long-awaited project moving.

"The award of the construction contract means we are another important step closer to seeing boots on the ground.

"With designs complete and major utility works already carried out, the focus can now turn to construction and delivering this important new connection," Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said.

Source: NSW Government – Media Releases; Shellharbour City Council (1, 2, 3)