our projects

Delivering complex infrastructure needed to build better communties

Fowlers-Road-to-Fairwater-Drive-Abergeldie-2

Fowlers Road to Fairwater Drive Link, Stages 2 and 3

Fowlers Road To Fairwater Drive Link

Abergeldie and Wollongong City Council delivered the Fowlers Road to Fairwater Drive Link, one of a number of key road improvements undertaken as part of the West Dapto Access Strategy. This strategy will provide bridges, roads, and shared paths to reduce congestion, improve access during periods of flood, and provide better connections for West Dapto’s growing population. The project involved the construction of an extension to Fowlers Road from the Princes Highway intersection to the Fairwater Drive/Daisy Bank Drive roundabout.

Client

Wollongong City Council

Year

2020

Region

NSW

Above floodplain

Stage Construction Process

Lane Road and Shared Path Constructed

Scope of Works

Traffic lights at both ends of the link road which includes replacing the roundabout at Daisy Bank Drive/Fairwater Drive
Four lane road with shared path
Heritage fig tree remains with new plantings
Flood channels – allowing rainwater to run into Reed and Mullet creeks
Small bridge of approximately 36 metres over floodplain
Main bridge of approximately 198 metres over Mullet Creek and Railway Line
Embankment to support the main bridge at Marshall Street
Marshall Street deviation under the main bridge
Princes Highway/Fowlers Road intersection upgrade for connection to the wider road network including the M1.

Complexity

The team worked with various time restrictions to ensure minimal disturbance to the local community. Works within the live rail corridor were carried out while normal rail traffic continued, uninterrupted. Works within the vicinity of schools meant a restriction on material haulage via the school during school zone hours.

The health of the local environment and culture was a high priority with areas of ecologically significant vegetation being clearly identified and protected to avoid disturbance. Areas of Aboriginal significance were also identified and managed through an Aboriginal Heritage Impact Permit (AHIP).

The widening of the Princes Highway was to be undertaken with the least possible disruption to local traffic. Lot adjustments along the Princes Highway, also required extensive community liaising to ensure minimum disruption to local community residents and businesses throughout the life of the project.

Community Benefits

The West Dapto Access program is a long list of goals created by Wollongong City Council to cater for the growing population in West Dapto and surrounding communities. Fowlers Road to Fairwater Drive and its many pieces of infrastructures are key to provide better and safer roads and bridges for commuters, pedestrians and cyclists and improve access during flood events. The project is the largest ever undertaken by the council and part of their ongoing investment in helping future growth in the Illawara. The bridge was named Karrara Bridge after the traditional Aboriginal name for Upper Mullet Creek after a community vote, paying homage to the traditional owners of the land. Since completed, the project has been awarded a number of awards.