Busy North Head Drive faces five week shutdown for works

It’s one of the shire’s busiest roads and it’s set to be shut from Monday 24 May for five weeks. Photo: Eurobodalla Shire Council.

If you’re a regular commuter along North Head Drive, you’re being warned that from Monday 24 May you’ll have to find an alternate route and allow for extra transit time.

The section from south of the Moruya Airport to the granite quarry will be closed for five weeks while major road rebuilding and safety improvement works are completed.

Commuters and cyclists who usually travel this route, including those heading north to the airport from Moruya, will need to use the Princes Highway and Broulee Road instead.

Anyone accessing Moruya Airport, the racecourse or speedway is advised to allow additional time to travel via the alternate route while North Head Drive is closed.

Eurobodalla Council advised it had secured substantial grants in order to complete major strengthening and widening works along the road and Garlandtown Bridge.

It is hoped the upgrades will meet the future transport needs of the coastal corridor and Moruya Airport.

Eurobodalla Council’s infrastructure director Warren Sharpe said traffic controllers would escort residents and visitors to properties within the construction site, however through traffic would not be possible.

“The section west of Garlandtown Bridge has a restricted working area between the hill and the river. Closing the road means the work can be completed much faster and safer than trying to rebuild the road with more than 4000 vehicles a day passing through the worksite,” he said.

“We do have a good alternate route via the Princes Highway and Broulee Road which takes less than one-minute extra to and from Moruya, so we are asking for the cooperation of our community while these important roadworks are undertaken.”

Mr Sharpe acknowledged Eurobodalla motorists were in the midst of multiple road closures and delays.

“Floods, bad weather and bushfire recovery work have combined to push scheduled programs of work,” he said.

“We know it’s inconvenient with Transport for NSW doing a lot of work on the highway and council crews busy on local roads.

“Delays and detours are frustrating for everyone, but this is important work that needs doing to improve road safety.”

North Head Drive is expected to reopen on Wednesday 30 June, weather permitting.

For more information about the project visit the Eurobodalla Council website.