Princes Highway upgrade program

Reviewed

Project overview

We are delivering safer and more reliable journeys on the NSW South Coast by progressing upgrades to the Princes Highway.

To deliver safer, more efficient, and reliable journeys for the people who live, work and explore the NSW South Coast, we’re upgrading this iconic coastal route.

We're now progressing priority projects between the south of Nowra and the Victorian border, under our Roadmap to 2040. You can find out more about the priority projects on this page.

 

Interactive portal

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

Latest news

Jan 2023 – Expression of Interest - Biodiversity Offset Program

Biodiversity Offset Program Transport for NSW is seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) from rural landowners within the Wollongong, Wingecarribee, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven and Eurobodalla Local Government Areas that may be interested in entering a Biodiversity Stewardship Agreement on their land under the Biodiversity Offset Program.

Landowners interested in lodging an EOI need to complete and return the application form to us by 31 March 2023. View more information on the Biodiversity Offset Program.

Dec 2022 – Annual update 2022

As we head into the holiday season, we’d like to thank you for your ongoing interest in the Princes Highway upgrade program.

We'd like to share to an update on our activities during the year along with a short status update on each of our priority projects:

View our 2022 Annual Update. You can also download a pdf version.

We look forward to continuing to engage with you in 2023. Wishing you, your family and friends a safe and restful festive season.

 

 View the news archive for past updates.

Project information

Background

The Princes Highway is a critical link between Sydney and the Illawarra Region with the NSW South Coast down to the Victorian border. It provides vital connections between towns and regional centres and is an important freight link.

Between 2011 and 2019, the Australian and NSW governments have invested $2.9 billion upgrading the Princes Highway to provide safer and more reliable journeys.

The focus is now on the future, with the Australian and NSW Governments committing $2.25 billion since 2019 to upgrade the Princes Highway between the south of Nowra and the Victorian border.

Planning for priority projects is progressing including Jervis Bay Road and Princes Highway intersection upgrade, Jervis Bay to Sussex Inlet Road upgrade, Milton Ulladulla bypass, Burrill Lake to Batemans Bay upgrade and Moruya bypass.

Early work for the Jervis Bay Road and Princes Highway intersection upgrade is on track to commence by the end of this year. Early work will transition to major work in 2023.​ Construction is expected to take around three years to complete, weather permitting.

Benefits

  • Improving safety for local communities, visitors and freight who all share the road.
  • Easing traffic congestion.
  • Better connecting communities through improved local access.
  • Transforming the South Coast of NSW and catering to its growth.
  • Better connecting communities through improved local access.
  • Easing traffic congestion.
  • Creating more reliable journeys.
  • Enabling more efficient movement of freight.
  • Growing regional economies through improved access to regional centres.
  • Improve the atmosphere of regional town centres for the benefit of locals, pedestrians and businesses.

Projects in construction

Jervis Bay Road intersection upgrade

The intersection upgrade between Jervis Bay Road and the Princes Highway will improve safety for all transport customers, reduce congestion, improve access to local roads and growing tourist and residential areas, improve network resilience, support active and public transport users and support the growth of regional economies.

For more information, see the Jervis Bay intersection upgrade project.

Nowra Bridge project

Transport for NSW is building a new four lane bridge over the Shoalhaven River, upgraded intersections and additional lanes on the Princes Highway. The project will improve traffic flow and ease congestion on a major section of the Princes Highway and deliver faster and more reliable journeys within the Nowra-Bomaderry area.

The NSW and Australian Governments have each committed $342 million to the project.

For more information, see the Nowra Bridge project.

Projects in planning

Milton Ulladulla bypass

Planning for a bypass of Milton and Ulladulla is underway.

The Milton Ulladulla bypass will deliver safer and more reliable journeys along the Princes Highway by bypassing the Milton and Ulladulla town centres.

Bypassing Milton and Ulladulla will take the flow of 'through' traffic away from these town centres, reducing travel times.

The Milton Ulladulla bypass is a priority project as part of the Princes Highway upgrade program that aims to deliver a safer highway for the NSW South Coast. 

For more information, see the Milton Ulladulla bypass project

Moruya bypass

Planning for Moruya bypass is underway.

A Moruya bypass would deliver safer and more reliable journeys between South Coast communities for locals, visitors and freight operator and ease congestion especially during peak holiday periods. 

A bypass would improve the atmosphere of the Moruya town centre for locals, pedestrians and businesses and enhance the appeal of the area to tourists and improve safety for vulnerable road users by taking heavy vehicles off the main street. 

For more information, see the Moruya bypass project.

Jervis Bay Road to Sussex Inlet

Transport for NSW is delivering safer and more reliable journeys on the South Coast by progressing the upgrade on Princes Highway between Jervis Bay Road and Sussex Inlet Road.

The priority section of the Jervis Bay Road to Sussex Inlet Road upgrade has been identified as the six-kilometre upgrade between Jervis Bay Road and Hawken Road.

The prioritisation of the northern section follows assessments into safety, traffic efficiency, connectivity needs and environmental conditions. 

For more information, see the Jervis Bay Road to Sussex Inlet upgrade project.

Burrill Lake to Batemans Bay

Transport for NSW is delivering safer and more reliable journeys on the South Coast by planning for future upgrades to sections of the Princes Highway between Burrill Lake and Batemans Bay.

Transport is planning for important safety upgrades to ensure safer and more efficient journeys for motorists including additional overtaking lanes, intersection upgrades, shoulder widening, and rest area upgrades.

For more information, see the Burrill Lake to Batemans Bay project.

Projects completed

Albion Park Rail bypass

Transport for NSW is building an extension of the M1 Princes Motorway between Yallah and Oak Flats to bypass Albion Park Rail. The NSW Government is funding the $630 million project. The bypass would complete the 'missing link' for a high standard road between Sydney and Bomaderry.

For more information, see the Albion Park Rail bypass project.

Berry to Bomaderry upgrade

For more information, see the Berry to Bomaderry upgrade project.

Batemans Bay Bridge replacement project

The $274 million project will build better connections in and around Batemans Bay for motorists, freight, river users, pedestrians and cyclists. Major work started in early 2019 and is planned to be complete in early 2023.

For more information, see the Batemans Bay Bridge replacement project.

Princes Highway upgrade at Gerringong

Transport for NSW officially opened the Princes Highway upgrade at Gerringong in August 2015. The upgrade provides 7.5 kilometres of upgraded highway between Mount Pleasant and Toolijooa Road and includes two new interchanges with access to Gerringong and Gerroa.

For more information, see the Gerringong upgrade project.

Foxground and Berry bypass

The Foxground and Berry bypass opened in November 2017. The bypass includes  a four-lane divided highway (two lanes in each direction) with median separation for 12.5 kilometres of the Princes Highway between Toolijooa Road and just south of Andersons Lane.

The upgrade also includes a bypass of the existing winding highway at Foxground and a bypass of Berry with access ramps at the north and south of the town.

For more information, see the Foxground and Berry Bypass project.

Termeil Creek upgrade

Transport for NSW has completed the upgrade to the Princes Highway at Termeil Creek The project involved building a new wider bridge over Termeil Creek and realignment of approximately 1.6 kilometres of the Princes Highway to improve the curves north of the bridge.

Construction was completed in mid 2016.

Burrill Lake Bridge

For more information, see the Burrill Lake Bridge project.

Community information

Frequently asked questions

Media releases

  • 25 May 2021
    Milton gets the green light for new traffic.
  • 25 February 2021
    Safety improvements on Princes Highway from Turlinjah to Bodalla.
  • 15 April 2020
    Strategic plan for Princes Highway upgrade moves forward.
  • 2 April 2020
    Meet the Princes Highway upgrade team for a Q&A session on Facebook live.
  • 17 March 2020
    Shaping the future of the Princes Highway.

Project documents

Some documents on this page may not comply with accessibility requirements (WCAG).

If you are having trouble accessing information in these documents, please contact us.

 

Project updates

Contact us

For further information about this project, please contact:

Phone: 1800 719 759

Email: princeshighway@transport.nsw.gov.au