Macquarie Pass will be closed at night while work is carried out to install a new turning lane. Photo: TfNSW.
Macquarie Pass will be closed at night to all vehicles for about two months to install a turning lane at Clover Hill Road.
The Illawarra Highway will be closed between 8 pm and 4 am from Sunday to Thursday nights, from the start of work on Monday 28 April until mid-July, weather permitting.
During the closures vehicles will need to detour via Picton and Mount Ousley roads, adding about 30 minutes to journey times.
Work to install a dedicated right turn lane from the Illawarra Highway onto Clover Hill Road will involve widening the road shoulders, installing guardrail and 50 m of motorcycle underrun rail, formalising the emergency stopping bay, drain upgrades and road resurfacing.
No work will take place on Macquarie Pass on Sunday 4 and 18 May, due to maintenance closures on the M1 Princes Motorway at Mount Ousley.
A Transport for NSW (TfNSW) spokesperson said the work would improve safety for those who travel to the popular Clover Hill Trail walking track.
“These upgrades will give vehicles the space to safely wait to turn right onto Clover Hill Road without affecting traffic flow or worrying about vehicles banking up behind them on the Illawarra Highway,” the spokesperson said.
“We know Macquarie Pass is a popular scenic route, especially for motorcyclists, and the national park is a destination in its own right.
“We want our community to be able to access the Pass’ beautiful walking trails and waterfalls as safely as possible.”
TfNSW has worked with National Parks and Wildlife Services to complete a Review of Environmental Factors, which determines the environmental safeguards in place during work.
A number of trees will be removed to widen the road shoulders, and TfNSW will carry out weed management work to offset the impact of this tree removal, including reusing tree logs and hollows within the national park as temporary habitat.
A temporary site compound/stockpile location will be located about 1.5 km east of the work area, opposite Cascade Falls Picnic area, limiting parking during the project.
Access to homes and businesses within the work area will be maintained at all times under the direction of traffic control.
Further slope stabilisation work will be carried out on Macquarie Pass later this year and TfNSW will notify the community when work dates are confirmed.
