Wollongong Lord Mayor Tania Brown gets an update on West Dapto roadwork. Photo: Wollongong City Council.
The second stage of the West Dapto Road upgrade is progressing well and the road remains on track to reopen in July, Wollongong’s Lord Mayor says.
A section of the busy thoroughfare that links the booming West Dapto housing developments with the Princes Highway was closed in July last year for the work.
The first stage of the work, at the western end of West Dapto Road, was completed in early 2025.
The second stage includes upgrading the intersection of Shone Avenue, Wongawilli Road and West Dapto Road, as well as works along West Dapto Road towards Yard Street.
West Dapto Road remains closed between Shone Avenue and Yard Street.
Wollongong Lord Mayor Tania Brown inspected the work recently and said she was pleased to see council’s works team was making good progress.
“While much of the early work on the project has gone on beneath the surface in preparation for road widening, it’s clearly taking shape and we remain on track to reopen to vehicle traffic in July, weather permitting,” she said.
“I’m confident it will be well worth the wait and provide much needed connectivity for these communities.
“Housing supply is a high-priority issue for our community and the nation, but we need to ensure new housing is linked to town centres and to other major highways, which is what these projects allow us to do.
Above: The view looking north along West Dapto Road and below, looking west. Photos: Wollongong City Council.
“We know that West Dapto is of major strategic importance to our region’s housing future, but it’s part of a broader approach to Dapto and the surrounding suburbs.
“It’s a rapidly growing community, and it’s important that we’re providing new and improved infrastructure, while maintaining the services our residents rely on.”
The work includes the construction of stormwater drainage, a new shared path including pedestrian bridge, road pavements and the continuation of relocation of electrical and water services.
According to council’s West Dapto website, there was extensive modifications and relocations of underground services required, including electrical, stormwater, gas, communications and drinking water supplies.
“We’ve had a couple of issues outside council’s control, including delays with service authority approvals and the discovery of buried asbestos-containing materials,” the website update said.
“We’ve worked to limit the impact of these issues and minimise delays as much as possible by changing the order of works and adjusting project staging.”
Cr Brown also inspected work as crews carried out the finishing touches to the Cleveland Road Stage 1 upgrade.
“This connecting road infrastructure will help unlock these growing suburbs. It certainly looked terrific, with widening from two lanes to four, construction of a new shared path and street lighting and new stormwater drainage,” she said.
