On Friday, Shellharbour Mayor Marianne Saliba and Member for Kiama Gareth Ward helped plant one of 15 fig trees along a new corridor of the bypass.

The planting took place near the Croom Regional Sporting Complex.

Read more: Why glass is being used to make Albion Park Rail bypass roads

Shellharbour City Council staff grew the trees from cuttings from the large fig tree that stood in Little Park, Shellharbour Village prior to the establishment of a new playground.

According to council, Caroline Chisholm camped under the old fig tree in Little Park when she assisted settlers to Shellharbour in 1843.

Cr Saliba said propagated trees had historic and sentimental value for the Shellharbour community.

"Unfortunately, the large fig tree in Little Park had to be cut due to safety reasons," she said.

"So beloved was the tree, the community told us they wanted it incorporated into the new Little Park, where it stands today.

"To ensure the tree's life and history continued, council staff grew 60 baby figs from cuttings, which are now around six feet tall.

"I planted the very first of these baby trees at Shipman's Park, Flinders, in December 2018.

"The remaining trees will be planted throughout the city so that the life of this tree continues for generations to come."

Staff from Transport for NSW and contractor Fulton Hogan were also on-site for the event.

Mr Ward said planting of the fig trees was "emblematic of the growth that we're seeing in our region".

He said it was also an example of the NSW government's commitment to environmental sustainability as part of the bypass project.

The Mercury recently reported that when the Albion Park Rail bypass opens, motorists will be driving over the equivalent of 30 million glass bottles.

About 8.2 kilometres of the asphalt in the 9.8-kilometre bypass will be laid with recycled crushed glass replacing sand in the process.

The $630 million bypass, which would allow drivers to skip six sets of lights, is expected to be open in 2022.

"We are ahead of time, and on budget," Mr Ward said.

Some sections of the project are already in use, including a bridge into Albion Park - which will form the southbound off ramp in the finished project - and the Croome Road bridge.

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