The long-awaited Albion Park Rail bypass could be finished well ahead of schedule - thanks to the weather.
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Officially, the bypass is due to open to traffic in mid to late 2022, but the lack of rain means work has continued uninterrupted by wet weather.
Kiama MP Gareth Ward was on the ground on Thursday and, while he wouldn't be drawn on just how far ahead of schedule the project was, he admitted the weather was speeding things up.
"Just as we experienced at Berry [the Berry bypass], whilst the drought is terrible for our farmers it ain't too bad for building roads," Mr Ward said.
"We've seen good progress on this project, and the Berry to Bomaderry project, which is also cracking along at a phenomenal pace as well.
"We've already starting piling work almost every one of the 13 bridges on this project."
Other road projects - like the Berry bypass - included a bonus in the contract if the company finished ahead of schedule.
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It is not clear whether a similar clause appears in Fulton Hogan's contract to build the $630 million Albion Park Rail bypass.
Mr Ward was at the southern end of the project on Thursday to officially open the first stretch of the bypass project to traffic.
Open a few days later than the planned November 5 date, motorists will now drive on a new section of the East West Link between Croome Road and Woollybutt Drive.
"What this is, is a mini-switch," Mr Ward said.
"What we're doing is diverting traffic onto the first newer section, so we can continue work providing dual carriageways along the East West Link.
"It is permanent - this is the new section of pavement. We've built this section so we can dig up the old section and build the other two sets of lanes.
"We''ll be doing a number of these switches throughout the first months of 2020 as that section is constructed."
An earlier section of the bypass project was temporarily opened in September.
Traffic was moved onto the new section of Yallah Road for eight weeks to allow for the relocation of utilities.