South facing ramps at Dapto
Project overview
Transport for NSW has started planning for additional entry and exit ramps to connect motorists in Dapto to the M1 Princes Motorway. The new south facing ramps aim to reduce the distance and time residents of Dapto and neighbouring suburbs must travel to head to, or from, south of Dapto.
The detailed planning work will help confirm potential locations for additional ramps and determine the impacts to the local road and motorway network.
Latest News
Feb 2024 - Community consultation closed
Feedback has now closed on the south facing ramps at Dapto.
Thank you to all those who submitted their feedback. We are reviewing all comments received and preparing a feedback summary report.
Project information
The M1 Princes Motorway is an important link between Sydney, the Illawarra Region, and NSW South Coast. It is a route that provides vital connections for commuters, freight and recreation.
The Illawarra-Shoalhaven region is expected to grow by around 100,000 people by 2041, increasing the total population to around 505,000 people. This growth is anticipated to deliver new homes, jobs and services, and influence travel behaviors and the demands on the transport network.
Planning work will include strategic modelling of the broader road network to understand the interface between any new south facing ramps and a potential future interchange at Yallah, including what impact this would have on the performance of the M1 Princes Motorway.
Identified opportunities for new south facing ramps include but are not limited to locations at Kanahooka, Fowlers or Emerson roads. The potential future Yallah interchange is proposed to be located at Yallah Bay Road and would allow for northbound and southbound movements.
There is no funding available for construction at this stage.
Community information
Objectives
Initial planning for the project will involve identifying:
- preferred locations for south facing entry and exit ramps that provide the greatest benefits
- how new entry and exit ramps will impact the wider transport network, including local roads
- how this project will support long-term transport and land use goals for the area.
Benefits
The south facing ramps at Dapto project aims to benefit the community by:
- reducing travel distances and travel time to and from destinations south of Dapto
- reducing congestion on local and sub-arterial roads
- improving network resilience with new detour options available for both planned and unplanned closures of the M1 Princes Motorway
- reducing vehicle operating costs and emissions
- improving road safety on the surrounding road network
- providing a more reliable journey and better-connected transport services in the Illawarra Shoalhaven.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does this project relate to the Yallah interchange and does it replace the Yallah interchange?
Transport for NSW will consider the interaction of the proposed south facing ramps at Dapto and a potential future interchange at Yallah during the planning stages of this project. This is needed to understand what impact this would have on the future performance of the M1 Princes Motorway.
The Yallah interchange would provide additional access onto the M1 Princes Motorway at the northern end of the Albion Park Rail bypass.
The Yallah interchange would also provide improved connectivity into the West Lake Illawarra Growth Area.
How does this project relate to the other multi-modal investigations taking place on the M1 Princes Motorway?
Transport is looking at broader transport solutions and connectivity between Shellharbour and Wollongong in response to anticipated changes and growth across the Illawarra, including the West Lake Illawarra Growth Area.
Ongoing investigations are considering alternative options to improve the M1 Princes Motorway’s efficiency beyond providing additional entry and exit ramps in the Dapto area. These may include, but are not limited to, infrastructure improvements, new public transport services, and other options outside of the immediate M1 Princes Motorway corridor to improve the travel experience of road users across different travel modes.
How will the community be involved in the development of the project?
Feedback was open to the community from Monday 11 December 2023 to Monday 12 February 2024. We are now reviewing the feedback received and preparing a feedback summary report. The feedback received will help inform the preferred location of the ramps and help us understand what local road users are experiencing. There is no current funding for construction at this stage.
How long will this project take to complete?
Following community consultation, we hope to complete early planning by late 2024. Once the confirmed locations have been announced, more detail on project timeframes will be developed depending on the preferred option. We will keep the community updated. There is no current funding for construction at this stage.
Will the new south facing ramps reduce travel times on the M1 Princes Motorway between Dapto and Wollongong?
A number of projects are currently being planned to increase network capacity, cater for future traffic demands, and improve safety for users of the M1 Princes Motorway.
Investigations include transport solutions to improve multi-modal connectivity between Shellharbour and Wollongong. These solutions will also address anticipated changes across the Illawarra, including the West Lake Illawarra Growth Area, while providing more options for travelling around the Illawarra region.
Further details about specific improvements will be announced at a later date.
Community notifications
December 2023 – Community Notification (PDF, 213.62 KB)
Media Releases
Have your say on improving connectivity to the M1 Princes Motorway at Dapto
Contact us
For further information about this project, please contact:
Email:southprojects@transport.nsw.gov.au
Mail: PO Box 477, Wollongong NSW 2500