Mount Ousley Interchange project gets additional $150m funding

The Mount Ousley Interchange project has secured an additional $150 million funding from both the Australian and New South Wales Governments. 

The Albanese Government is committing an additional $72 million through the 2024-25 Federal Budget, bringing the total Federal Government investment towards the project to $312 million. 

Meanwhile, the State Government is investing a further $78 million towards the $390 million development. 

“This new and additional funding is great news for the more than 50,000 motorists who travel through the base of Mount Ousley each day, who are now another step closer to safer and faster journeys. 

“We are committed to ensuring delivery of this critical piece of infrastructure, which will not only improve travel times for motorists but also provide safer journeys and support growing freight movements to the south coast,” Federal Infrastruture, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said. 

“The M1 Princes Motorway at Mount Ousley is a busy and vital route for tourists, locals and the freight industry in the Illawarra region, which is why we’re committed to reducing congestion and delays. 

“This additional funding from the Albanese Labor Government is part of our commitment to upgrading regional road networks to ensure they’re fit-for-purpose, connect regional people to economic opportunities, and keep motorists and hard-working truckies safe,” Federal Regional Development and Local Government Minister Kristy McBain said. 

Major works on the Mount Ousley Interchange are due to commence in late 2024, taking about four years to complete, weather permitting. 

Key features of the project include: 

• A heavy vehicle bypass lane for southbound travel, separating light and heavy vehicles 
• Separate off ramps for southbound light and heavy vehicles exiting the M1 Princes Motorway 
• Two heavy vehicle safety ramps 
• A bridge over the M1 Princes Motorway with signalised intersections connecting the M1 Princes Motorway, Mount Ousley Road and the new access road to the University of Wollongong 
• A commuter car park 
• A roundabout that provides access to the M1 Princes Motorway and the University access road 
• A shared path along the bridge over the M1 Princes Motorway and the University access road 
• A southbound access road between Mount Ousley Road and University Avenue 
• A pedestrian and cyclist bridge over the southbound access road 
• A shared path connecting to the existing path from Helen Street, and upgrades to the shared path adjacent to TAFE NSW Wollongong 

Consultation on the project's Urban Design and Landscape Strategy Report is currently underway and the project team is encouraging the community to have their say. 

“It’s great to see the Albanese Labor Government supporting vital commuter and freight corridors in our region, improving connectivity between the Illawarra and Greater Sydney. 

“An additional $77 million for the Mount Ousley Interchange and $72.5 million for upgrades to Appin Road ensures our region can continue to grow our local industry and provide world class steel to homes across the country,” Federal Member for Cunningham Alison Byrnes said. 

“The Albanese Government’s Budget is delivering for the Illawarra. This additional $72 million in funding for Mount Ousley Road will ensure locals are better connected to and from Sydney. 

“We know Mount Ousley Road is used frequently by trucks and motorists. This budget investment is all about improving safety for everyone,” Federal Member for Whitlam Stephen Jones said. 

The contract to design and build the Mount Ousley Interchange was awarded to Fulton Hogan earlier this year. You can read more about it here.

In addition, the Australian Government has also committed $5 million to undertake a final business case for safety and resilience improvement works on the M1 Princes Motorway at Mount Ousley. Planning for this project is expected to be completed by mid-2027. 

The M1 Princes Motorway is one of the main road freight corridors to and from the Illawarra-Shoalhaven region, with an estimated five million tonnes of freight travelling on this route each year. 

“The new Mount Ousley Interchange is a critical piece of infrastructure for the Illawarra region – a project that will provide work and training opportunities for up to 450 people throughout construction. 

“This major improvement is one of my priorities as Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast and something I’ve advocated for our community for a long time. 

“I’m very excited by every milestone in this project that gets us closer to achieving a safer and more efficient journey for the 50,000 motorists who travel along this route each day,” State Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast Ryan Park said. 

The significant funding injection is part of more than $3.1 billion invested towards vital land transport infrastructure projects in New South Wales in the recent Federal Budget. This includes over $2.5 billion for important road and rail infrastructure upgrades and support planning for future projects. The Budget also includes almost $580 million to help ensure the delivery of existing projects. 

The Federal Government’s total infrastructure commitment to New South Wales over the next 10 years is $20.8 billion, including $17.7 billion in major road and rail project as well as $3 billion for smaller projects through programs such as the Roads to Recovery and Black Spots programs. 

“The Albanese and Minns Governments’ major partnership to invest in this critical project for the Illawarra and south coast region demonstrates our shared commitment to significantly improve the M1 Princes Motorway at Mount Ousley. 

“This is a busy and vital route for visitors to the region, locals, business and the freight industry, which is why we are getting on with the job of getting key upgrades built,” NSW Roads Minister John Graham said. 

“This additional funding – which builds on the $78 million NSW has injected towards this project – provides Wollongong locals with certainty. 

“It’s a project we’ve long wanted to see get underway, because improving access from the M1 Princes Motorway and the Wollongong CBD will unlock economic opportunities and make this busy road network safer,” State member for Wollongong Paul Scully said. 

Source: Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government; Transport for NSW (1, 2); Infrastructure Magazine