The Snowy Mountains Highway, which crosses Brown Mountain, has long been criticised for damage to its surface. Photo: Supplied.
More than three months of repair work costing $1.6 million has been announced for a South Coast highway.
The funding is set to enable the repair of one of the two remaining landslip sites on the Snowy Mountains Highway, which crosses Brown Mountain.
Member for Bega Dr Michael Holland said the repair work followed four landslip sites being fixed in 2024.
“The work has been carried out under difficult conditions on steep and narrow sections of our regional road network, with machinery often operating in spaces narrower than a standard single car garage and workers either suspended on platforms or on abseiling ropes,” Dr Holland said.
Seven other landslip sites have been repaired, at a cost of more than $8.6 million in joint disaster funding. That cost includes $1.9 million announced in June 2024 to fix a landslip site about 1.5 kilometres east of the Fred Piper Memorial Lookout, as well as separate repairs to two other landslip sites.
Repair work started at the eighth landslip site on Monday (17 March) and is expected to be completed by the end of June, weather permitting.
Transport for NSW has appointed Piling & Concreting Australia (PCA) to carry out the work. PCA was the contractor at two of the sites completed last year.
The work will involve installing soil nails into the ground to add strength to the slope, before mesh and spray-on concrete are applied to help prevent erosion.
The $1.6 million is a joint commitment from the Federal and State governments. Image: Screenshot/Live Traffic NSW.
Member for Monaro Steve Whan thanked motorists for their patience during past repair work.
“Getting these repairs done has been [a] joint effort between governments and it highlights how important it is to have an advocate at federal level like Kristy McBain – one who works with the State Labor Government constructively to deliver for our community,” Mr Whan said.
“This is a vital route for our region as well as for tourism, health, and freight, I’m pleased to see this work nearing completion. This will make a safer [and] more disaster-resilient road.”
During the repairs, a 300-metre section of road will be reduced to a single lane.
Also, temporary barriers and traffic lights will be in place to manage traffic flow and a reduced speed limit of 40 km/h will be implemented.
Motorists are asked to drive to the conditions, follow any directions from signs and traffic control, and to allow about five minutes of extra travel time.
Member for Eden-Monaro Kristy McBain said she understood the impacts of ongoing damage to the highway.
“As someone that drives up and down Brown Mountain several times a week, I know how frustrating the continual landslips, rockfalls and delays are – which is why we’re getting on with this important repair work,” she said.
“It’s fantastic to see seven of the landslip sites on Brown Mountain completed thanks to the investment from the Albanese and Minns governments, and now another $1.6 million in joint funding will kickstart work on one of the two remaining sites.
“From getting to important health appointments, keeping our local businesses running, and ensuring the broader region can experience everything that our community has to offer – it’s critical that we improve the reliability of Brown Mountain and that’s what I’m delivering.”
Existing traffic lights at the last landslip site to be repaired will also remain in place. Planning is underway for this site, with work expected to begin later this year.
Updates on road closures and other changed conditions can be found on the NSW Live Traffic website, or by downloading the app.
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