Replacing the roundabouts on University Avenue at Gywnneville with traffic lights was considered as a lower cost option to the Mt Ousley interchange.
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Roads and Maritime Services has released the Review of Environmental Factors (REF) and a revised design of the interchange, which will be located at the base of Mt Ousley.
The interchange will separate southbound heavy vehicles from other traffic as well as providing a northern entry point to the University of Wollongong.
The REF stated two “low-cost options” were considered to deal with traffic concerns in this area.
One of those was installing traffic lights on University Avenue, as a means to reduce the queuing at the southbound Princes Motorway off ramp.
But the report said this option was dismissed.
“Traffic modelling showed that using traffic signals to prioritise traffic flows from the southbound off ramp, would cause queues and delays to increase substantially on the northbound off ramp (from the M1 Princes Motorway into Irvine Street), also impacting on the Memorial Drive loop to the motorway,” the REF stated.
There have been several changes to the interchange plans following a period of consultation with the public.
A northern off ramp has been added to allow motorists access to the interchange and the new university entrance.
Also, southbound traffic exiting at University Avenue will now have a dedicated lane, omitting the “weave” created by need for drivers trying to exit at the same location where trucks are looking to re-enter the motorway.
There is no funding or start date for construction but the REF states the first portion of the works would include the heavy vehicle safety ramps and bypass lane as well as work on the roundabouts on either side of the motorway.
When finished the REF states the interchange will reduce travel time along the motorway by as much as 94 seconds for cars and 37 seconds for heavy vehicles.
People can give feedback on the concept design and the REF until December 15.
Glen Humphries
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
