Does this road look familiar? Sections of the Princes Highway will look a tad different soon. Photo: Dr Michael Holland MP, NSW Member for Bega.
Lane closures and a lowered speed limit are coming to a major regional highway during multi-million dollar safety upgrades.
Two projects – planned for the Princes Highway at Coila and Mogo – will commence in early February.
The upgrades, set to cost more than $5 million, will take place along a stretch of highway between Deep Creek Dam Road and Burkes Lane (at Mogo) and the intersection of the highway with Hector McWilliam Drive (at Coila).
Member for Bega Dr Michael Holland said the changes would improve road safety for locals and tourists.
“We’ve listened to what the community wants at the Hector McWilliam Drive intersection, and that’s a better and safer intersection, which this work aims to achieve,” he said.
“Safety measures including widened shoulders, roadside flexible steel rail safety barriers, wide centreline and rumble strips are important improvements to the Princes Highway and could help save lives.”
In early February, crews will be working to widen the shoulder and install 2.2 km of flexible steel rail roadside safety barriers along a 3.5 km stretch of the highway at Mogo.
The barriers are intended to help prevent crashes, absorb impact forces and redirect vehicles back into their lane.
New one-metre-wide centrelines will be added, giving motorists more space between oncoming traffic and more time to react.
Widening the centreline is estimated to reduce head-on crashes by up to 50 per cent.
Rumble strips will also be installed along the centre and edge lines in the area.
The roadworks will take place on a part of the highway between Batemans Bay and Mogo. Image: Dr Michael Holland MP, NSW Member for Bega.
According to a community notification letter, there will be intermittent single lane closures and stop/slow traffic control measures during the roadworks.
The speed limit will be reduced to 40 km/h, and motorists are asked to allow an extra five minutes travel time.
In February, work will also start on an upgrade to the intersection at Hector McWilliam Drive, near Coila.
The intersection is an important link for residents and tourists, providing the primary access route to Tuross Heads.
A new lane will be added to help motorists as they merge onto the highway. Image: Dr Michael Holland MP, NSW Member for Bega.
The upgraded intersection will include a left-turn slip lane and roadside safety barriers adjacent to the commuter carpark (on the southern corner of the intersection).
These improvements will make it easier and more efficient for motorists turning left to enter the highway, meaning they can merge safely at speed with the southbound traffic.
The roadworks will start on 3 February (for Mogo) and 9 February (Coila).
Both projects are expected to take about 12 weeks to complete, if the weather allows.
Work will be carried out on weekdays from 7 am to 6 pm, as well as 7 am to 1 pm on Saturdays as required. No work will be carried out on Sundays or public holidays.
The NSW Government has provided $2.25 million for the intersection upgrade from the Regional Roads Fund.
$2.8 million for the upgrades near Mogo is being delivered as part of the $60 million Princes Highway corridor safety and efficiency upgrades program.
Original Article published by Claire Sams on About Regional.
