First bridge completed on Albion Park rail Bypass

18 May 2020

The $630 million Albion Park Rail bypass has reached an important milestone with the first of 13 bridges to be built, now open to traffic.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said it was great to see the first bridge completed for the 9.8 kilometre bypass which forms part of the Princes Highway upgrade, one of the biggest infrastructure projects on the NSW South Coast.

“The 13 bridges will help to improve the flood immunity of the highway, increase accessibility and freight efficiency,” Mr Toole said.

“It moves us another step closer to completion of the Albion Park Rail bypass which will deliver the final link in an upgraded road between Sydney and Bomaderry, bypassing 16 intersections and wiping 30 per cent off travel times through the area.

“This is an important part of the NSW Government’s investment to upgrade the Princes Highway to make it safer, more reliable and more efficient which will transform journeys along the South Coast.”

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward was on site as the crew prepared the bridge for the first cars to drive over it.

“It is fantastic to see the hard work of the project team and the patience from the community rewarded with the first bridge opening to traffic,” Mr Ward said.

“It is also reassuring to see NSW infrastructure projects pushing on during challenging times to support jobs and local business in the region.”

The bridge into Albion Park is 65 metres long, and has ten Super-T girders, each 1.5 metres deep and weighing more than 60 tonnes.

It will become the southbound exit ramp when the project is complete.

Of the 13 bridges being built there are five waterway crossings, one access crossing, one railway crossing, three road crossings and three bridges being built as exit/entry ramps to the motorway.