Berry to Bomaderry - Princes Highway upgrade

Major work started in September 2018. The NSW Government has engaged Downer Seymour Whyte Joint Venture (DSWJV) to build the upgrade.

Work on the upgrade will typically occur between 7am and 6pm on weekdays and between 8am and 1pm on Saturdays, excluding public holidays and weather permitting. The local community will be informed in advance if night work is required.

Work is scheduled for completion in 2022.

The project will:

• Increase road capacity and improve traffic efficiency - will complete a minimum four-lane divided route between Sydney and Jervis Bay Road, south of Nowra and increase overtaking opportunities
• Improve safety - providing a median and barriers to separate opposing traffic flows and providing wide road shoulders
• Plan for future growth - supporting regional and local economic development

The Berry to Bomaderry upgrade will include the following key features:

• A 100km/h speed limit north of Abernethys Lane
• An overpass of the highway between Pestells Lane and Meroo Road
• An underpass at Devitts Lane and Morschels Lane for local road access
• An overpass of the highway between Strongs Road and Jaspers Brush Road
• Protected right turn bays to northbound and southbound u-turn bays
• A heavy vehicle inspection bay near Jaspers Brush
• A total of eight bridges over waterways
• Fauna friendly features in the bridge designs at Flying Fox Creek, Jaspers Brush Creek and Wileys Creek
• Increased road shoulder widths to three metres, where possible, with vehicle breakdown bays at regular intervals
• Modifications to local roads, including Strongs Road, Jaspers Brush Road, Morschels Lane, Devitts Lane, Pestells Lane and Abernethys Lane
• Relocation and upgrade of existing bus stops at Mullers Lane, Croziers Road, Strongs Road, Morschels Lane, Lamonds Lane and Boxsells Lane
• Drainage and flood mitigation structures.

General questions

• How much is the project going to cost?
  The NSW Government has allocated $450 million for the upgrade of this section of the Princes Highway which will provide a four-lane divided highway between Mullers Lane at Berry and Cambewarra Road at Bomaderry.
• What are the benefits of the highway upgrade between Berry and Bomaderry?The Princes Highway upgrade from Berry to Bomaderry will complete a minimum four-lane divided route between Sydney and Jervis Bay Road, south of Nowra.

  This upgrade will improve safety for all road users and local residents accessing the Princes Highway between Mullers Lane at Berry and Cambewarra Road at Bomaderry.

  Safety features of this upgrade include a divided carriageway; less curves, improved road shoulders, barriers and line marking; and the prevention of right hand turns by median separation and protected bays.

  Traffic efficiency will also be improved for road users on the NSW South Coast.

  The project is also supporting regional and local economic development.

• How were the locations for the three interchanges determined?
  The three interchanges for the project, connecting Jaspers Brush Road and Strongs Road, Morschels Lane and Devitts Lane, and Pestells Lane and Meroo Road, are regularly spaced to provide an equitable level of access for the wider community between Berry and Bomaderry. Devitts Lane is located at the half way point of the alignment.

  Once the upgrade is complete, right turn restrictions from local roads will be in place. These restrictions will be introduced due to the inclusion of a central median and significantly widened alignment of the new highway. Motorists will be required to turn left from local roads and travel to the nearest available overpass if they need to travel in the opposite direction.

• How will the project improve safety and reduce accidents?
  A key objective of the Berry to Bomaderry Princes Highway upgrade is to improve road safety along the upgraded section of highway. Once completed, the highway upgrade would incorporate features that would address causes of the recent vehicle accidents on this section of the highway. These safety features include:

  • a divided carriageway would reduce the likelihood of head on collisions
  • less curves, improved road shoulders and line marking would reduce the likelihood of run off road crashes. In addition, barriers would also reduce the risk of this crash type
  • prevention of right turns to driveway accesses by median separation and the provision of protected right turn bays at limited side roads would reduce the risk of rear end impacts.
• How are we minimising residential area impacts such as near the Princes Highway and Cambewarra Road roundabout Bomaderry?There will be some impacts to residents along the Princes Highway and Cambewarra Road roundabout in Bomaderry and managing these impacts during and after construction is essential.

  Other residents may also be impacted by local road access changes from time to time during construction and the project will notify all impacted residents before traffic changes are put in place.

  We are working to reduce impacts of the highway upgrade to local residents during construction and when the new highway is open to traffic.

  • Noise - a noise and vibration study was completed during the environmental assessment of the project. As a result, we will construct a low noise pavement surface to help reduce traffic noise impacts once the upgrade is complete. The noise study completed as part of the project development identified some properties requiring work to assist in reducing the impact of noise and these properties have been contacted. An additional assessment will be done after the project is completed.
  • Lighting - street lighting will be located in the centre of the new highway at the southern end of the project and will include special fittings that will provide optimal visibility for highway traffic and prevent light extending beyond the highway. Some additional lighting will be provided at side road intersections on the upgraded section of the Princes Highway.
• Was a bypass of Bomaderry considered?
  In September 2016, the NSW Government published the Princes Highway Corridor Strategy, which sets out the Government’s 20 year plan to manage and guide the development of the road corridor to improve safety, traffic efficiency and sustainability. The strategy was prepared by a multidisciplinary team from Transport for NSW and Roads and Maritime Services with expertise in road safety, traffic, asset management, land use, environment, planning and development. The strategy sets out short term, medium term, and long term priorities to manage the highway.

  The strategy recognises Bomaderry and Nowra as key areas with traffic congestion issues on the Princes Highway. The most significant activity in the short term to improve traffic flow through Bomaderry and Nowra is to complete planning and commence construction of the Nowra bridge project.

  Medium and long term priorities are also identified in the strategy and include continuing to manage traffic issues within Nowra and Bomaderry.

  Detailed traffic modelling is currently underway and the results of this work will provide valuable information on the current and future performance of key intersections through this town centre and the impact of population growth and proposed work on the Princes Highway.

  You can read the full Corridor Strategy document on our website page Princes Highway corridor strategy.

During construction

• What will the construction hours be?
  Standard NSW construction hours are as follows:
  • 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday
  • 8am to 1pm Saturday (currently 7am to 6pm Saturdays under the Environmental Planning and Assessment (COVID-19 Development-Infrastructure Construction Work Days) Order 2020.)
  • No work on Sundays and public holidays.
  • Out of hours work, such as night work, will be required where construction activities would otherwise severely impact traffic flow on the Princes Highway. We will inform affected residents and stakeholders seven days before starting night work activities.
• Will highway access be impacted during construction?
  Access from Berry to Bomaderry on the Princes Highway will continue throughout construction. There will be some impacts and delays on the highway and adjoining local roads during construction, we will work to keep impacts to a minimum especially during peak traffic periods.
• How will traffic be impacted during construction?
  Temporary detours and lane closures may be required. The community will be notified of any traffic changes.

  Construction activities and vehicle movements during peak holiday periods will be planned to minimise impacts on the local roads and the Princes Highway.

  Traffic changes will be communicated to motorists through electronic message signs and livetraffic.com.

• Will there be increased noise on the highway during and after construction?
  Detailed assessments were carried out to predict potential noise, vibration and light impacts of the project during construction and when open to traffic.

  During construction, practical steps will be used to minimise noise including switching engines off when not in use, keeping machinery well maintained and scheduling of work taking into consideration school and public holidays.

  Once in operation, ongoing noise reduction measures for traffic noise will include noise mitigation to properties where appropriate, landscaping and low noise pavement surface.

• May 2021

  New section of the Berry to Bomaderry upgrade opens to traffic.

• April 2021

  Final overpass for Berry to Bomaderry upgrade opens to traffic.

• September 2020

  Berry to Bomaderry upgrade powering ahead.

• December 2019

  Major milestone for Berry to Bomaderry.

• October 2019

  Safety measures removing right hand turns to roll out on Berry to Bomaderry upgrade.

• April 2019

  Bridge girders moving into place.

• February 2019

  Night work on Princes Highway between Jaspers Brusha and Bomaderry.

• December 2018

  Statement: noise mitigation.

• November 2018

  Work underway on bridges for Berry to Bomaderry upgrade.