Albion Park Rail Bypass due to open ahead of schedule in mid-2021

The $630 million Albion Park Rail Bypass works are tracking more than a year ahead of schedule, with a revised opening date of mid-2021.

Connecting Sydney to Bomaderry in NSW, the new route will be 9.8 kilometres long and it will feature 13 bridges.

Other features include connections to the Princes Motorway at Dapto and Oak Flats, a new interchange at the Illawarra Highway and Tongarra road and other safety and environmental initiatives.

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward said he was excited to announce the project is ahead of schedule and on budget.

“This demonstrates the NSW Government’s commitment to upgrading this section of the Princes Highway which will see the efficient movement of freight and reduce journey times for all motorists as well as returning the local streets to their local communities,” Ward said.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said the project has been a huge boost for local jobs and the local economy.

“More than two million hours of work have been carried out on the bypass to date and about 2800 people have worked on the project since construction started, with more than 300 people working on site at the project’s peak and around 70 per cent of full time jobs going to local workers,” Toole said

“The project has made use of extended work hours to deliver the upgrade more quickly than expected while significantly reducing construction impacts.”

He said it’s expected that 65 per cent of vehicles on the route are expected to transfer onto the bypass once complete.

Two of the project’s 13 bridges are now open to traffic. Crews are now pushing on with work on other bridges as well as utility relocations and major earth and road work.

The next milestone on the project is the third East West Link traffic switch, currently scheduled for the end of this month.