In the 2011/12 NSW Government budget, $1 milion was allocated to the project to continue planning for the realignment of the Princes Highway at Dignams Creek.

Roads and Maritime Services proposes to realign the Princes Highway at Dignams Creek.

Background

Roads and Maritime Services is planning for a future upgrade of the Princes Highway at Dignams Creek, approximately 20kms south of Narooma. The proposed upgrade would improve road safety along this stretch of road which is steep and winding with a history of crashes.

The majority of these crashes involve vehicles leaving the road on curves. To assist in addressing these crashes Roads and Maritime Services proposes to upgrade the road to a modern highway standard alignment, lowering the number and severity of curves in the road.

Key Features

The key features of the project would be to:

• Construct a new highway built to modern road alignment standards.
• Construct a new bridge over Dignams Creek replacing the existing bridge.
• Construct a new junction at the Princes Highway and Dignams Creek Road.
• Upgrade an existing southbound overtaking lane.

The project would also result in sections of the existing Princes Highway south of Dignams Creek Road be removed and revegetated. Wildlife corridors between Gulaga and Kooraban National Parks would also be maintained through the installation of fauna crossings structures as part of the road upgrade.

• Improved road safety.
• Improved road geometry and alignment, leading to improved travel efficiency.
• A reduction of vehicle carbon emissions due to improved alignment.
• Improved travel times for motorist on the Princes Highway.
• Facilitating and catering for fauna movement through installation of fauna crossings.

Community consultation

RMS publicly displayed a preferred road corridor and alignment for comment in December 2010 and consulted directly with affected land owners and local councils.

As part of the planning process, RMS is now reviewing the proposed road corridor and is investigating an alignment to the west of the existing Dignams Creek Bridge. This is a result of community concerns and the need to go forward with a design that gives better value for money.

RMS will consult directly with affected land owners throughout these investigations.

RMS is inviting Aboriginal people and Aboriginal groups who hold cultural knowledge relevant to determining the significance of Aboriginal objects and places for the Princes Highway upgrade at Dignams Creek to register to be consulted. To register your interest, please contact RMS's Aboriginal Cultural heritage Advisor, Agnes Donovan, on (02) 4221 2767.