A $10 million injection of Commonweath cash has seen Wollongong City Council get “across the line” needed to progress its multimillion-dollar Fowlers Road bridge link.
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Stage one of the overall project – a four-lane, 1.3-kilometre road link between Fowlers Road and Fairwater Drive – is expected to be put out to tender by Christmas.
The infrastructure, estimated to cost about $95 million, will ease pressure on other roads in the West Dapto area and provide better access during flood events.
The road link was one of 67 projects to share in the $126 million handed out as part of the third, and final, round of the federal government’s National Stronger Regions Fund (NSRF).
Minister for Regional Development and Deputy Nationals Leader Fiona Nash announced the successful applicants on Friday.
The funding win comes after the Fowlers Road project was overlooked in round two of the NSRF last year.
Wollongong lord mayor Gordon Bradbery was pleased the “long process” had resulted in a favourable outcome and thanked Ms Nash’s department for “finally coming to the party”.
“Now we’re across the line, we’ve got sufficient funds now to go to tender before Christmas this year for for stage one of the Fowlers Road extension,” Cr Bradbery told the Mercury.
“This is one of the biggest and largest infrastructure projects that Wollongong City Council will undertake”.
Labor Member for Whitlam Stephen Jones, a long-time campaigner for federal government funding of the road link, welcomed the Coalition cash splash.
“This project couldn’t come soon enough, it will link West Dapto’s growing population to the M1 Motorway and make a real difference,” Mr Jones said.