Motorists will have their first opportunity to drive on new sections of Illaroo Road between the Princes Highway and Fairway Drive from this weekend.
Senator for NSW Jim Molan said major traffic changes coming into effect on Friday would enable crews to continue widening and lowering the southern side of the existing Illaroo Road as part of the Nowra Bridge project. The construction phase of the project is expected to cost $310 million, and is jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments.
“This game-changing project will deliver a new four-lane bridge over the Shoalhaven River, upgraded intersections and additional lanes on the Princes Highway that will improve traffic flow and ease congestion through the Nowra and Bomaderry areas,” Senator Molan said.
“The work will remove the steep grade of the road and create a safer intersection with the Princes Highway.
“These changes will be in place until mid-2022, weather permitting, and Illaroo Road will have seven lanes when the upgrade is complete in mid-2024.”
Lane restrictions and a lowered speed limit of 40 km/h will be in place on Illaroo Road from 9am Friday, 13 August to 6am Monday 16 August, weather permitting.
Changes include moving traffic north onto the new lowered section of Illaroo Road, with the northbound left-turn slip lane from the highway to be temporarily removed as part of this work.
Road users wishing to turn left onto Illaroo Road will come to a stop at the traffic lights and wait for the green left arrow to proceed.
State Member for South Coast Shelley Hancock said traffic on Illaroo Road will operate with one lane in each direction during the day and this will be reduced to one lane with stop/slow traffic conditions at night, along with occasional partial lane closures on the Princes Highway during this time.
“As of Monday, Illaroo Road will once again be two lanes in each direction with road users following the new traffic lights at the intersection with the Princes Highway and using a new roundabout at the intersection with Fairway Drive,” Mrs Hancock said.
“The footpath on the southern side of Illaroo Road will remain open for pedestrian and mobility access, and access to properties and Fairway Drive will be maintained at all times.
“We understand that these traffic changes might be confusing for some road users initially and we appreciate their patience as this marks another exciting step forward for the project.
“We’re also reminding the community that we’re seeking feedback via an online questionnaire about the community’s experience with the project team during construction, which can be completed anonymously until Friday, 13 August.”
Princes Highway traffic between Bridge Road and Moss Street will also shift west on the morning of Friday 13 August, weather permitting.
This will allow the project to create a safe work area on the eastern side of the highway to connect the new Shearwater Way with the widened highway.
Night work will be required in preparation for these traffic changes and will include asphalting, linemarking, and installing temporary traffic barriers and street lighting.
The footpath and underpass between Harry Sawkins Park and Campbell Place will be temporarily closed from Monday, 16 August for up to two months, weather permitting, to allow the extension of the pedestrian underpass under the widened highway lanes.
Path users will be detoured via the Moss Street and Princes Highway pedestrian crossing, and the Nowra Skate Park will remain open during this work.
In addition to these traffic and pedestrian changes, there will be a weekend closure of Bridge Road between the Princes Highway and Hyam Street later this month and a weekend closure of Bolong Road in September.
More information will be provided closer to the closure dates for this work.
Visit nswroads.work/NowraBridge for more information or to complete the feedback form.