Major Boost To Duplication Of Our Princes Highway

The NSW Liberals & Nationals Government will invest another $960 million upgrading more of the Princes Highway - making the road safer and bringing new jobs and investment to the South Coast.

In the next term of government, the NSW Liberals & Nationals will:

• Duplicate sections of the Princes Highway from Jervis Bay Road to Sussex Inlet Road;
• Build the Moruya Bypass; and
• Start detailed planning work for the Milton and Ulladulla Bypass and upgrades for the Princes Highway from Burrill Lake to Batemans Bay.

The NSW Government already has $1.5 billion of work underway on the Princes Highway and today’s announcement will increase that total to more than $2.4 billion.

“Only the NSW Liberals & Nationals can deliver this type of major investment for the South Coast, thanks to our careful handling of the economy and the budget,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“Upgrading the Princes Highway will improve safety, improve journey times and more efficient freighting will further boost our already strong state economy.”

The NSW Liberals & Nationals Government has already made massive investments in upgrading the Princes Highway between Wollongong and Nowra.

Upgrades have been completed at Gerringong, and the Foxground and Berry Bypass has recently opened – both projects Labor promised in government, and failed to deliver.

A further $1.5 billion of work is proceeding now, including the Albion Park Rail Bypass, the Berry to Bomaderry Upgrade and Nowra Bridge project.

As well as improving safety for ordinary motorists, Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance said the upgrade work will improve freight times.

“Upgrading the Princes Highway will be a major driver of economic development,” Mr Constance said.

“We are already delivering major road upgrades for the South Coast and our work in the next term of Government will continue those major investments.”

The NSW Minister for Roads Melinda Pavey said the program of works will also generate tens of thousands of jobs, primarily in construction and engineering but also will boost local economies by providing opportunities for suppliers and services that will be required to support such an enormous enterprise.

“The successful training hub program in place as part of the Berry to Bomaderry Princes Highway upgrade will be replicated right along the NSW South Coast, providing locals with priceless jobs and training opportunities that will transform communities for generations to come,” Ms Pavey said.

Ultimately, the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government is committed to duplicating the entire Princes Highway between Nowra and the Victorian border.

It is expected the investment will be more than $15 billion across the next 20 years to upgrade the Princes Highway.

Between July 2012 and June 2017 there were 1494 crashes on the Princes Highway from Jervis Bay Road to the Victorian Border, resulting in 30 fatalities and 350 serious injuries.

Between December 2017 and June 2018, eight more people lost their lives on the Princes Highway south of Nowra.

The steady reduction in deaths on the Pacific Highway in the 20 years since the full duplication project started provided a strong case for similar work on the Princes Highway.

“This commitment is the result of the strong advocacy and persistence of South Coast MP Shelley Hancock, Kiama MP Gareth Ward and Bega MP Andrew Constance,” Mrs Pavey added.

“This program is on top of our record investment in highways across the state including the Pacific Motorway, the Newell Highway, the Kings Highway – we’re building them all.”