The footbridge will be closed for a day. Photo: Keeli Dyson.
A pedestrian bridge above the M1 Motorway will be temporarily closed to allow works to continue on the Mt Ousley Interchange, with efforts underway to preserve native flora impacted by the project.
The footpath connecting UOW to Foleys Lane, which includes the Northfields Avenue pedestrian bridge, will be closed from 7 am Tuesday 8 July to 7 am Wednesday 9 July to allow for the Mt Ousley Interchange construction crew to safely carry out a concrete pour and continue work on the bridge.
The connection was closed for a month last year.
Pedestrians and cyclists will need to detour via the TAFE NSW Wollongong carpark, Foleys Lane, University Avenue and Irvine Street during this time, with signage to be placed along the new path.
Footpath closure and detour in place from 8 – 9 July. Photo: TfNSW.
As the infrastructure progresses, measures have also been put in place to preserve features of environmental and cultural significance.
Transport for NSW (TfNSW) recovered a number of Dharawal palms, also known as cabbage tree palms, to keep in a temporary location while work is underway.
TfNSW Regional Director South Cassandra Ffrench said the trees held strong significance in the Aboriginal culture.
“We have engaged with a number of stakeholders, including the local Aboriginal community, Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council and the University of Wollongong to relocate and store the cabbage tree palms for up to two years with the aim to integrate the majority back into the landscaping for the project,” Cassandra said.
“Recovery of these significant trees demonstrates Transport’s commitment to sustainability and minimising impacts on the environment as vegetation removal continues on the southern side of the M1 Princes Motorway near the University of Wollongong.”
The palms are one of Australia’s tallest native plants with trunks reaching heights of 30 metres and leaves spanning three to four metres in length.
Dharawal palms will be temporarily cared for at UOW before being reintegrated into the landscape. Photo: TfNSW.
Nine of the recovered trees, which range from two to four metres in height, would be cared for by the University of Wollongong’s (UOW) landscape team.
“We are pleased to contribute to this effort and care for these trees over the next two years,” UOW Vice-President Operations Stephen Phillips said.
“One of the cabbage tree palms will be replanted in the Woolyungah Indigenous Centre courtyard, three more on the university’s grounds and the remainder will be stored with the aim of being replanted as part of the project’s landscaping.”
As well as the plans for the pedestrian bridge, throughout July workers will undertake extensive excavation of material and ground stabilisation work on Mount Ousley Road and Dumfries Avenue, construction activities for the noise wall on Dumfries Avenue, drainage work, relocating and installing utilities, pavement work and line marking and concrete pouring.
There will also be increased truck movements transporting soil and material between worksites on both the M1 Princes Motorway and delivery of oversized equipment.
Residents can expect work to continue during the day from Monday to Saturday with night works planned throughout the month.
For more information on works visit the Mt Ousley Interchange project page on the TfNSW website.
