Albion Park Rail bypass - Princes Highway upgrade

Reviewed

Project overview

Transport for NSW has completed an extension of the M1 Princes Motorway between Yallah and Oak Flats to bypass Albion Park Rail.

The Albion Park Rail bypass is a $630 million project funded by the NSW Government that completes the 'missing link' for a high standard road between Sydney and Bomaderry. It is an important freight, bus and tourist route. The bypass was opened in October 2021, and work was completed early 2022.

Latest news

Dec 2022 – Operational noise assessment report now available

A post construction noise assessment has been completed and the report is now available following the completion of the Albion Park Rail bypass.

For more information, view the operational noise webpage.

Mar 2022 – Work is now complete

Work is now complete on the Albion Park Rail bypass project.

We would like to sincerely thank you, our community, for your patience throughout construction.

 

Interactive portal

To learn more about this project, view our interactive portal for more information.

Project information

Background

Major construction work on the Albion Park Rail bypass began in January 2019. The NSW Government has engaged Fulton Hogan to design and build the 9.8 kilometre bypass.

Standard construction hours are Monday to Friday 7am to 7pm and Saturdays 8am to 5pm. The local community will be informed in advance is work is required outside of standard construction hours.

View the project overview map and Frequently Asked Questions.

Read the interactive e-Book that celebrates the journey of the project and tells the story of the Albion Park Rail bypass.

Benefits

  • Planning for the future
  • Up to 30 per cent travel time saving
  • Return local streets to local communities
  • Increased road capacity
  • Improve the efficient movement of freight
  • Six times less likely to crash
  • Reduce flood impacts
  • Improved connectivity for the Albion Park community
  • Up to 16 intersections bypassed
  • Better and more reliable trips for locals, tourists, businesses and freight
  • Last town to be bypassed between Sydney and Bomaderry.

Features

The key features of the bypass project include:

  • A 9.8 kilometre extension of the Princes Motorway between Yallah and Oak Flats bypassing Albion Park Rail
  • A central interchange at Albion Park
  • A southern interchange at Oak Flats
  • Thirteen new bridges
  • Earthworks including embankments in the floodplain
  • Pedestrian and cyclist facilities to improve connectivity
  • Facilities for pedestrians and cyclists
  • Local road upgrades on Tongarra Road and Yallah Road.

Croom Regional Sporting Complex

Stage one of the project involved the reconfiguration of Croom Regional Sporting Complex which began in March 2018. The new AFL/Cricket field has been completed in addition to new grass netball courts, changes to the rugby league fields as well as new amenities buildings and horse recreational areas. Completion of this work is a significant milestone for the project and has freed up land to make way for the bypass.

New access road and shared path

The new access road and shared path between the senior rugby league field and little athletics field is now open.

The access road travels under a bridge with a height restriction of four metres.

Vehicle, pedestrian and cyclist access map.

Vehicles over four metres can access the northern facilities, including Illawarra Model Car Club, Southlake BMX Club and the little athletics field from the northern entrance at Croome Road, near Cedar Street.

Vehicles over four metres can access the southern facilities including hockey, netball, junior rugby league fields, senior rugby league field, cricket/AFL field and Shellharbour City Stadium from the temporary southern entrance south of the Croome Road and East West Link roundabout. A bus turnaround bay is available for the southern facilities.

Community information

Environmental Protection Licence (EPL)

Access the Environmental Protection Licence (EPL) monitoring data for this project.

Media releases

  • 7 August 2021
    True north for Albion Park Rail bypass as lanes open.
  • 19 June 2021
    Albion Park Rail bypass opening a few steps away.
  • 15 June 2021
    Walk before you drive: time to celebrate Albion Park Rail bypass.
  • 16 November 2020
    Early opening for Albion Park Rail bypass.
  • 12 August 2020
    New Albion Park Rail bypass bridges on the way.
  • May 2020
    First bridge completed on Albion Park rail Bypass.
  • November 2019
    Part of new East West Link Road now open to traffic.
  • November 2019
    First permanent traffic switch for the Albion Park Rail bypass.
  • November 2018
    Detailed design for Albion Park Rail bypass on display.
  • November 2018
    Changed traffic conditions on Croome Road at Albion Park.
  • October 2018
    Investigation work on Princes Highway at Yallah and Oak Flats.

Contact us

For further information about this project, please contact:

Email: SouthProjects@transport.nsw.gov.au

Mail: Albion Park Rail bypass project team, PO Box 477, Wollongong NSW 2520