Mount Ousley Interchange a step closer to completion as work continue to ramp up

Works are ramping up on the $405 million Mount Ousley Interchange project between the Princes Motorway and Mount Ousley Road, and is another step closer to providing improved connectivity, safety and efficiency for those travelling through the Illawarra.

Sixteen 15-metre-long pre-cast concrete girders now form part of the structure that will connect Mount Ousley Road over the heavy vehicle bypass while another 20 girders that range from 17 to 25 metres in length will make up the new path over the southbound access road.

More than 40 engineering and STEM students from the University of Wollongong and Keira High School were invited to watch the girders being lifted into place in an effort to inspire the next generation of civil engineers and construction workers.

“This is an important milestone for a project that will deliver safer, more reliable journeys across the Illawarra.

“Mount Ousley is the front door to Wollongong, and this interchange will make a real difference to how people and freight move through this corridor each day.

“We’re getting on with delivering the infrastructure our growing region needs,” NSW Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast and Member for Keira Ryan Park said.

Crews will now ramp up the construction of the bridges with deck formwork alongside the building of the bridge deck, shared path, approach slabs and concrete parapets.

Extensive work was carried out along the project corridor during the recent night closures of the M1 Motorway, including:

• Pavement construction connecting the new safety ramp to the existing Princes Motorway
• Construction of new sign gantries to indicate the location of the new heavy vehicle safety ramp
• Drainage works to ensure the motorway is safe to drive on during wet conditions

“This project is building real momentum, and you can now clearly see the scale of what’s being delivered for Wollongong and the wider Illawarra.

“The new interchange will improve connectivity for motorists, freight and active transport users, while making this key gateway safer and more efficient.

“This is a critical upgrade that coupled with the Minns Labor Government’s recent $270 million commitment to improve roads near the port will support the Wollongong and the Illawarra’s growth for years to come,” NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces and Member for Wollongong Paul Scully said.

The new safety ramp that recently opened is now providing a safe area for trucks and buses to gradually come to a stop if they experience brake failure while descending Mount Ousley. The ramp was designed in line with the highest standards and it features concrete barriers and a gravel base for the vehicles to gently sink into causing them to slow down and stop.

The 220-metre-long and five metre-wide ramp has also been designed for a B-double up to 26 metres in length. An access road was also delivered for maintenance of the ramp and vehicle recovery.

The Mount Ousley Interchange project is due to be completed in 2028.

This project is jointly funded by the Minns and Albanese Labor Governments.

“This is a significant investment in the Illawarra, improving safety and reliability on one of the region’s busiest highways.

“With key bridge structures now in place and the first heavy vehicle safety ramp now open to traffic, welcome progress on the project is now visible for all to see.

“This is an important investment from the Albanese and Minns Labor Governments that will keep people and freight moving safely and efficiently in and out of Wollongong,” Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said.

“We are working hard across all levels of government to ensure that our local road corridors are safer and more reliable.

“The opening of the new heavy vehicle safety ramp is an important step forward for safety on Mount Ousley, and it is great to see yet another element of this monumental project start to benefit the community.

“I again want to thank the community for their patience and understanding while these major works are ongoing – as the gateway to the Illawarra, this intersection is hugely important for our entire region.

“We’re focused on delivering a safer and more accessible interchange for the benefit of local people, industry and visitors alike,” Federal Member for Cunningham Alison Byrnes said.

Key features of this project include:

• A heavy vehicle bypass lane for southbound travel, separating light and heavy vehicles
• Separate off ramps for southbound light and heavy vehicles exiting the M1 Princes Motorway
• Two heavy vehicle safety ramps
• A bridge over the M1 Princes Motorway with signalised intersections connecting the M1 Princes Motorway, Mount Ousley Road and the new access road to the University of Wollongong
• A commuter car park
• A roundabout that provides access to the M1 Princes Motorway and the Univeristy access road
• A shared path along the bridge over the M1 Princes Motorway and the University access toad
• A shared path bridge over Mount Ousley Road connecting to Dumfries Avenue via a shared path boardwalk
• A southbound access road between Mount Ousley Road and University Avenue
• A pedestrian and cyclist bridge over the southbound access road
• A shared path connecting to the existing path from Helen Street, and upgrades to the shared path adjacent to TAFE NSW Wollongong
• Upgrade and extension of the existing pedestrian bridge over the M1 Princes Motorway at Northfield Avenue
• Five-metre-high 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 high noise walls along the southern side of Mount Ousley Road, between Gowan Brae Avenue and the cul-de-sac at the western end

“This is a complex project on one of the Illawarra’s most important road corridors, and it’s good to see this next stage coming together.

“With the first heavy vehicle safety ramp now open, we’re putting in place a safer option for truck and bus drivers coming down Mount Ousley.

“If something goes wrong on that descent, drivers need somewhere safe to go. That’s exactly what this ramp provides.

“More than 50,000 vehicles use this route every day, including a lot of freight, so safety has to come first.

“This new interchange will deliver safer, more efficient journeys for motorists across the Illawarra,” NSW Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said.

Source: Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government; NSW Government – Media Releases; Transport for NSW (1, 2)