Frequently Asked Questions - South Batemans Bay Link Road
Project overview
Frequently asked questions about the South Batemans Bay Link Road.
December 2023
The project
What is the South Batemans Bay Link Road project?
Transport for NSW is building the next stage of the South Batemans Bay Link Road which will connect the Eurobodalla Shire Council upgrade of Glenella Road with the Princes Highway.
The project includes a new roundabout on the Princes Highway and a one-kilometre upgrade of Glenella Road between the Princes Highway and Heron Road.
How does this project fit in with the Eurobodalla Shire Council project?
In early 2019, Eurobodalla Shire Council completed the first stage of the Glenella Road between George Bass Drive and Heron Road. Transport for NSW has built the second stage to provide a safe connection between Glenella Road and the Princes Highway.
Who is responsible for the project?
The NSW Government committed $30 million toward the project, which is being delivered by Transport for NSW.
Where is the project up to?
The new South Batemans Bay Link Road opened to traffic in December 2023. Minor work will continue into 2024 with the installation of fauna crossings, minor landscaping work, final sealing and line marking activities. The community will be notified in advance of any traffic impacts.
Construction
What are the construction hours?
Standard working hours for the South Batemans Bay Link Road project are:
- Monday to Friday between 7am and 6pm
- Saturday between 8am and 1pm
Work outside of these hours may be required to reduce the impact to motorists during the day. Nearby residents will be notified of this work in advance.
Will there still be access to walking and bike tracks during and after construction?
There are no formal footpaths or cycle lanes within the construction boundary, however any residents who recreationally walk or jog along Glenella Road will be temporarily affected.
We are aware that the surrounding area is used recreationally and part of the Tinnie Track trail for mountain biking is located near Glenella Road. Access to walking tracks and mountain biking trails, such as the Tinnie Track, via Round Hill, will be unavailable during construction,
Fencing and signage has been implemented to stop pedestrians, cyclists and trail users from entering the construction area for safety reasons.
Access to Round Hill lookout was limited during some stages of construction. This access has now been reinstated with the completion of the project and will operate in a left-in left-out arrangement as part of the final design. All other recreational tracks are also operating as normal.
What are the traffic impacts during work?
Traffic changes may be in place on the Princes Highway while minor work is completed across the project. This includes reduced speed limits and temporary lane closures.
For the latest traffic updates, call 132 701, visit livetraffic.com or download the Live Traffic NSW app.
Will there be increased noise in the area?
There will be some noise associated with this work and we will make every effort to minimise noise where possible.
Detailed design
What are the key features and benefits of the design
The project included a new roundabout on the Princes Highway at Glenella Road, an upgraded two-lane road between the highway and Heron Road and changes to the intersection at Glenella Road and The Ridge Road.
The new roundabout on the Princes Highway includes:
• two southbound lanes through the roundabout
• a single northbound right turn lane through the roundabout to Glenella Road
• a northbound bypass lane on the Princes Highway
• a single lane entry to Glenella Road
• left and right turn lanes from Glenella Road.
The upgrade of Glenella Road includes:
• a sealed two-lane road (one lane in each direction) between the new roundabout on the Princes Highway and Heron Road
• changes to the intersection at Glenella Road and The Ridge Road, including a widened shoulder for passing vehicles.
The key benefits of the project are:
• improved travel times and connectivity to the southern coastal villages near Batemans Bay
• increased access and capacity to support growth in Batemans Bay and southern coastal villages
• improved access in emergencies
• improved safety and help reduce the severity of crashes in this location
• improved safety for pedestrians and cyclists on Beach Road and in the Batemans Bay town centre
• enhanced liveability and amenity of Batemans Bay, contributing to its attractiveness, sustainability and success
• providing a road network with increased capacity for future traffic growth
• improved access for business and freight for the southern coastal villages.
What changes have been made since concept design?
• designated left turn lane from Glenella Road to the Princes Highway at the roundabout
• left-in left-out arrangement to access Round Hill to improve the safety and accessibility to the lookout
• extension of the northbound merge lane along the Princes Highway to allow for safer merging of traffic
• pedestrian refuges to allow pedestrians and cyclists to cross the Princes Highway and Glenella Road in two stages
Preferred option assessment
What options were considered for the project?
During the development of the project, four options were considered and assessed. Each option had a similar road upgrade to Glenella Road, with different intersection types including:
- a roundabout including a northbound bypass lane on the Princes Highway
- a seagull with vehicles turning right onto the highway from Glenella Road, crossing the two southbound lanes onto a protected northbound lane before merging
- a left-in left-out with a no right turn into or out of the Glenella Road allowed
- a channelised right turn with a dedicated northbound lane for vehicles turning right into Glenella Road from the Princes Highway.
Why was a roundabout chosen as the preferred intersection option?
The roundabout was considered the preferred option as it allows safe access to and from the Princes Highway, allows for all travel movements and has the lowest environmental and property impacts.
It was also relatively easier to build, requiring smaller retaining structures than the other options and would cause less disruption to highway traffic during construction.
More details about each of the options, the assessment criteria and methodology for identifying the preferred option can be found in the Preferred Option Report (PDF, 2.19Mb).
Was a grade separated interchange considered?
The project team identified a range of intersection options to connect Glenella Road with the Princes Highway. Early development work considered a highway realignment and several grade separated arrangements.
Due to the surrounding landscape and challenging topography, these options were not considered feasible. The project team focused on options that were cost effective in meeting the project objectives.