Footbridge connecting TAFE, uni to close for a month as part of Mt Ousley Interchange work

The pedestrian bridge over the M1 Motorway linking North Wollongong and Gwynneville will be closed for a month. Photo: Jen White.

The M1 Princes Motorway pedestrian bridge at Northfields Avenue will be closed for at least a month from Monday (18 November) as part of the Mt Ousley Interchange work.

Pedestrians and cyclists will face a long detour to travel from the North Wollongong TAFE side of the motorway to Wollongong University and Gwynneville.

The existing bridge ramp on the TAFE side of the motorway will be demolished and a new ramp will be connected to the existing bridge.

The bridge will be upgraded and extended to accommodate new infrastructure for the interchange.

Transport for NSW said the temporary closure of the bridge was unavoidable while work to extend the bridge was carried out.

“The construction plan for this work has been developed to minimise the closure time as much as possible,” it said.

Pedestrians and cyclists wanting to cross the M1 Princes Motorway will need to detour via the TAFE NSW Wollongong carpark, Foleys Lane, University Avenue and Irvine Street.

Public paths and ramps are available for pedestrians and mobility devices, however, cyclists will need to ride on the road during this period.

The detour map for pedestrians and cyclists wanting to cross the M1. Photo: Transport for NSW.

View of the work from the top of Gowan Brae Avenue. Photos: Jen White.

Vegetation clearing along Mt Ousley Road.

Work further up Dumfries Avenue will include the removal of some soundwalls.

The closure is expected to last until Thursday, 19 December, weather permitting, when the bridge will reopen with temporary access.

The bridge work should be completed by mid-2025.

Meanwhile, work on the interchange will continue through to 20 December when the project site will close for the holiday period.

Upcoming work will include extensive vegetation clearing adjacent to the motorway and in some surrounding streets including Mount Ousley Road and Dumfries Avenue.

Part of the southbound noise wall will be removed and a temporary wall will be built between Northwood Road and Dumfries Avenue.

Night work will be carried out between 7 pm and 6 am, Mondays to Thursdays, from Monday 18 November to Thursday 19 December, weather permitting.

During the work, traffic control, changed traffic conditions, lane and road closures and reduced speed limits will be in place.

Road users are advised to drive to the conditions and follow detours and the directions of signs and traffic control.

The project site will be closed from Friday 20 December until Monday 6 January 2025.

During this time, there will be no construction work, however reduced work zone speed limits will continue to be enforced.