Eurobodalla Shire Council has started preliminary work to realign a notorious section of George Bass Drive, between Surf Beach and Lilli Pilli on the NSW South Coast. Earthworks and road construction is expected to begin in late January and be completed by the end of June. Photo: Supplied.
A notorious section of NSW South Coast road between Surf Beach and Lilli Pilli is to be upgraded, removing tight bends and providing protected right-turn intersections on George Bass Drive.
During the years, numerous vehicles have come to grief on the bends at Grandfathers Gully, most recently a truck that rolled over.
The road is an important link to the coastal villages of Malua Bay and Rosedale, and traffic along the route is only expected to increase as new developments open up.
Eurobodalla Shire Council received $3.8 million in Federal Government funding towards the road safety improvements, which will include removing the tight bends; providing protected right-turn intersections to Grandfathers Gully Road and Denise Drive; widened lanes; centreline treatments and shoulders; improved lighting; delineation; and protective fencing.
The upgrade will improve line of sight for drivers and provide safer access for residents to George Bass Drive from Grandfathers Gully Road and Denise Drive. It will also include a connection for a future off-road shared pathway to link Malua Bay, Lilli Pilli and Surf Beach to existing networks that will eventually connect Malua Bay cyclists to Batemans Bay and even Surfside.
Council’s infrastructure director Warren Sharpe said the upgrade is a key project in council’s Road Safety Plan 2019-2022.
He said Grandfathers Gully bends have a poor history of road crashes.
“We know that almost half of all our crashes are on busy roads such as George Bass Drive,” said Mr Sharpe. “We also know this road is experiencing significant growth in traffic due to increasing development at Lilli Pilli, Malua Bay, Tomakin and Broulee, and higher visitor numbers. This will grow further as the Rosedale West development comes online.
“We need to be on the front foot and get the road infrastructure needed to service these growth corridors in place to avoid further road-related trauma before it occurs.
“The new road alignment and road formation will provide for vastly improved road safety and capacity to meet current and future traffic volumes using this critical regional transport route.
“This project is a major win for community safety and transport in northern Eurobodalla.”
Fill removed from the site will be reused to prepare for broader road safety improvements along the route to Malua Bay and the Guerilla Bay intersection.
Council has already completed preliminary shoulder widening work. Earthworks and road construction is expected to begin in late January and be completed by the end of June.
Residential access will be maintained, including for emergencies, and council will be in direct contact with residents to inform them of construction arrangements.
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