Southern region

Oak Flats to Dunmore - realignment of the Princes Highway

 Oak Flats to Dunmore - realignment of the Princes Highway  

The $108 million Oak Flats to Dunmore upgrade of the Princes Highway was opened to traffic on 21 October 2009. The new roadway provides four lanes divided carriageway, two lanes in each direction with a grade separated interchange linked to Shellharbour Road.

The realignment of the highway between Oak Flats and Dunmore now links to the North Kiama Bypass providing a high standard four lane highway from Sydney to south of Kiama.

The project was fully funded by the NSW Government.

Community celebration walk

The local community celebrated the nearing of completion with a community event held on Sunday 11 October 2009.

Over 300 community members attended the day, which was officially launched by the Minister for Transport and Roads, David Campbell MP.

The local community walked along the new upgrade and viewed the new Flinders Interchange before it opened to traffic. Families enjoyed face painting, acts by a circus performer and a jumping castle. Donations from a sausage sizzle went to the Rural Fire Service who also had fire trucks and Smokey the Bear on hand to entertain children.

This event was an opportunity to thank the local community for their patience during the works and to recognise the efforts of all who have been involved in the upgrade.

Key features

  • A new 5.5km alignment the Princes Highway.
  • Four new bridges, including one that spans the South Coast Railway Line.
  • Widening Shellharbour Road for a distance of 2km.
  • A new grade separated interchange linking Shellharbour Road and the Princes Highway.

Benefits

  • Increased safety for motorists, removing the twisting Dunmore Bends.
  • Reduced travel times, especially during holiday periods.
  • On road cycleways in both directions for the length of the project, which ties into existing infrastructure at Oak Flats and the North Kiama Bypass.
  • Closure of the Railway Level crossing to traffic at Dunmore, with Dunmore Road (formerly Shellharbour Road at this location) converted into a Cul-de-Sac.