Works on this upgrade will be completed in two stages.

Stage 1:  West Dapto Road (western end)

Works on the western end of West Dapto Road were completed in early 2025.

Stage 2:  West Dapto Road - Shone Avenue to Yard Street

The next stage of works including the upgrade of the intersection of Shone Avenue, Wongawilli Road and West Dapto Road as well as works along West Dapto Road towards Yard Street started in 2025. This will involve a temporary closure to part of West Dapto Road from 29 July 2025 until mid-2026.

This large-scale project includes:

• Road, pavement, pathway, bridge and drainage works,
• Improved access during flooding, and
• New traffic signals at the intersection of Shone Avenue and West Dapto Road.

Key elements of the road upgrade are shown in the Consultation Plan Update for West Dapto Road Upgrade PDF, 7458.7 KB.

Works will be completed in a staged manner and are expected to be completed in 2026, subject to weather, service authority approvals and other unforeseen circumstances out of Council’s control.

To deliver this key piece of infrastructure, we’ll need to temporarily close part of West Dapto Road. This approach will help us finish the project faster and deliver long-term benefits to the community.

The temporary closure of part of West Dapto Road will occur, and part of West Dapto Road will remain open to local traffic only as shown below. Closure conditions may change throughout construction to facilitate upgrades.

Will I still be able to access my property?

Yes. Detour opportunities will be available to support residents in Wongawilli, Stream Hill and Horsely. Primary detour routes as shown below will be via:

• Fairwater Drive/Fowlers Road with M1 access,
• Bong Bong Road (no trucks),
• Princes Highway (northern access), and
• Darkes Road (no trucks).

Properties located within the worksite with direct driveway access will have access maintained throughout construction. The contractor will manage this access with information provided directly to those impacted.

What impacts will construction have in the area?

The temporary detours are expected to result in a slight increase in travel time for residents and a redistribution of local traffic to alternate routes. Significant services relocation, particularly near the Shone Avenue and West Dapto Road intersection, will dictate the time and duration of the road closures.

Construction is permitted on weekdays from 7am to 6pm and Saturdays from 8am to 1pm. Limited works may be required outside these hours to reduce impacts to road users or for safety reasons.

Additional truck movements associated with the works are expected. We will recycle existing road materials where possible for sustainability and to minimise traffic generation. The contractor will have management plans in place to minimise the environmental impact of noise and dust generated from the works.

Council is also working with Transport for NSW to minimise the impact on local bus services during the West Dapto Road closure. Bus services including route 30, 31, 32 and some school services across the West Dapto area will be altered and run to changed timetables with some longer travel times. The changes mean some passengers may need to catch a different bus route number than currently and may need to make a new interchange to complete their trip. Head to transportnsw.info for further information and to plan your trip, or check out the updated bus route map PDF, 81.24 KB.

How was the decision made to close the road completely rather than partially?

The full road closure to through traffic between Shone Avenue and Rainbird Drive is expected to result in the reduction in construction timeline, ensuring a higher-quality road finish, and generate significant cost savings for the project.

Will access for emergency services be affected?

Emergency services have been consulted on the temporary West Dapto Road closure, and alternative routes have been agreed to ensure access is maintained for emergency services.

How do I stay updated on the project?

You can stay updated during this period through information displayed on variable message signs. Road closures will be reported to live traffic services, enabling updates through navigation services.

We will provide regular updates on construction progress on this webpage.

I still have questions about this project, how can I have them answered?

If you have any questions or concerns, we are here to help. You can contact us by

• phone on (02) 4227 7111, or
• email us at council@wollongong.nsw.gov.au.

Thank you for your understanding as we improve local infrastructure.

We thank you for your understanding as we improve local infrastructure.

The West Dapto Road upgrade project is proudly funded by the NSW Government in association with Wollongong City Council.