As work continues on the new interchange between Princes Motorway and Mount Ousley Road, the first heavy vehicle ramp has opened to traffic.
The $405 million Mount Ousley Interchange project aims to improve connectivity, safety and efficiency for those travelling through the region.
Sixteen pre-cast concrete girders, each 15 metres long, now form the structure that will connect Mount Ousley Road over the heavy vehicle bypass.
A further 20 girders, ranging from 17-25 metres in length will make up the new shared path over the southbound access road.
Crews will now progress the construction of these bridges with deck formwork and building of the bridge deck, shared path, approach slabs and concrete parapets.
Recent night closures of the M1 Motorway have seen the following carried out:
Pavement construction connecting the new safety ramp to the existing Princes Motorway.
Construction of new sign gantries to indicate the location of the new heavy vehicle safety ramp.
Drainage works to ensure that the motorway is safe to drive on during wet conditions.
The new heavy vehicle safety ramp opened last week, in the early hours of Thursday morning. It is designed to provide a safe area for trucks and buses to gradually come to a stop if they experience brake failure while descending Mt Ousley.
NSW Minister for Roads, Jenny Aitchison said, “With the first heavy vehicle safety ramp now open, we’re putting in place a safer option for truck and bus drivers coming down Mount Ousley.
“If something goes wrong on that descent, drivers need somewhere safe to go. That’s exactly what this ramp provides.
“More than 50,000 vehicles use this route every day, including a lot of freight, so safety has to come first.
The ramp features concrete barriers and a gravel base for the vehicles to gently sink into causing them to slow and stop.
The ramp is 220 metres long and five metres wide and has been designed for a B-double up to 26 metres in length. An access road has also been constructed for maintenance of the ramp and vehicle recovery.
NSW Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast and Member for Keira, Ryan Park said, “Mount Ousley is the front door to Wollongong, and this interchange will make a real difference to how people and freight move through this corridor each day.”
The Mount Ousley interchange project is due for completion in 2028.
The post Heavy vehicle safety ramp opens to traffic as part of $405 million Mount Ousley Interchange appeared first on Big Rigs.
