The Mt Ousley Interchange project will impact traffic conditions and the availability of parking at the University of Wollongong (right). Photo: NSW Government.
It’s the start of March and that means thousands of students and staff returning to the University of Wollongong, as well as TAFE NSW Wollongong and local high schools.
The start of the teaching year has often been accompanied by high numbers of motorists trying to access the education precinct, resulting in long queues on the M1 Princes Motorway increasing the risk of accidents.
In a bid to control the increase in traffic around the Gwynneville/Keiraville and North Wollongong areas, Transport for NSW (TfNSW) has introduced traffic control conditions, effective from Monday 2 March until 10 April.
From 7:45 to 9:15 am, motorists exiting the M1 Princes Motorway at University Avenue will be diverted left to make a U-turn at the eastern roundabout.
University-bound motorists will then be detoured to the southern access route via Murphys Avenue and Robsons Road.
Motorists travelling northbound on the motorway using the Gwynneville exit will detour to the roundabout at Northfields Avenue to access Irvine Street.
Motorists wishing to access the motorway northbound from Keiraville or Gwynneville should do so via the Robsons Road entry at West Wollongong to avoid delays.
Residents will continue to have access to their properties, however they may experience additional traffic along Murphys Avenue and Robsons Road during peak periods.
Changed traffic conditions around UOW will be in place from 2 March to 10 April. Photo: NSW Government.
UOW warns that parking on the Wollongong campus is limited and fills quickly. This year there’ll be even less paid parking as usual due to the construction of the university’s new northern entrance as part of the Mt Ousley Interchange.
Changes have also been made to the campus carparks to improve pedestrian and vehicle access, traffic flow and provide additional spaces where possible, to mitigate lost parking due to the interchange work.
TfNSW is encouraging staff and students to leave their cars at home and catch the train to North Wollongong Station where they can jump on UOW’s free shuttle bus, cycle or walk to the university.
There are bike bases located across UOW’s Wollongong and Innovation campuses which offer CCTV-monitored bicycle storage rooms and access to end-of-trip facilities such as lockers, toilets and showers. The facilities are free for staff and students with a UOW access card.
Electric bike charging is available in certain locations.
The free Gong Shuttle bus (routes 55A and 55C) runs every 10 minutes in a loop around Wollongong, making stops at North Wollongong Station, Fairy Meadow Station, Gywnneville, Wollongong University and Innovation Campus.
For more information on getting to UOW, download the university’s transport guide.
