Member for Whitlam Stephen Jones, Labor candidate for Whitlam Carol Berry, and Member for Shellharbour Anna Watson announce a $10 million boost for south-bound on-ramps to the M1 at Dapto. Photo: Zoe Cartwright.
The plan to install south-bound M1 on-ramps at Dapto has received a $10 million boost from the Federal Government.
On Monday (17 March), Member for Whitlam Stephen Jones, Member for Shellharbour Anna Watson and Labor’s candidate for Whitlam Carol Berry announced the funding at Fowlers Road, one of the potential on-ramp sites.
Mr Jones said the funds were to match the NSW Government’s $10 million spend on planning the ramps.
He said he was unable to pre-empt next week’s Federal Budget, but he was confident it would include a commitment to the project.
“The first, second and third thing everyone in Dapto asks is when they’re going to get a south-bound on-ramp,” he said.
“The madness of the north-only ramps means my constituents have to double back and forth between the highway and motorway to cover simple trips.
“Dapto’s north-only ramps have been a headache for locals for too long. This funding means we can finally get on with the job.
“This is a regionally significant road and I’m delighted to announce a re-elected Labor Government will contribute $10 million to ensure all the design work can be done so this project can be shovel-ready.”
An initial consultation period, conducted by the NSW Government in 2024, received more than 4000 suggestions from the local community.
The next stage before construction can begin is the now jointly funded planning work.
This will explore three potential locations for the south-bound ramps onto the M1 Princes Motorway.
Emerson Road, or Fowlers or Kanahooka Roads, which have existing north-bound ramps, have all been identified as possible sites.
Ms Watson said the site would be announced “by the end of the year”.
The project will deliver better connections between suburbs to the south, such as Shellharbour and Kiama, to suburbs such as Dapto, Horsley and Brownsville.
The northbound on- and off-ramps at Fowlers and Kanahooka roads currently limit Princes Motorway access to residents travelling to or from the north, forcing commuters travelling to or from south of Dapto to detour via the Princes Highway.
This leads to inflated travel times and distances for Illawarra motorists, particularly during morning, evening and weekend peak periods.
“This is the number one issue for people in Dapto and West Dapto,” Ms Watson said.
“We want them to have direct access to the M1 without having to go through six sets of traffic lights.
“2023 was the year of commitment, where our community made the case for this investment. 2024 was the year of consultation, where Transport for NSW heard directly from residents and motorists what they want to see from this project.
“With this additional funding from the Federal Government, 2025 can be the year of detailed planning and development, as we get closer to starting work on this vital project.
“This is one of the fastest-growing areas in NSW and this project needs to be done quickly and properly.”
The population of the Illawarra-Shoalhaven is expected to grow by around 100,000 people by 2041.
As the population continues to grow and travel habits change, the southern ramps will simplify travel options across the region.
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