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Old South Road, Between Merrigang Street & Aylmerton Road

Announcement

20 September 2023 Update: As construction works continue on Old South Road, it is expected to remain closed between Merrigang Street and Aylmerton Road until December 2023.

The Contractor has completed the sealing of the intersections at Bong Bong Road, Diamond Fields Road and Aylmerton Road. Stabilising road sub-base of Stage 1 (Merrigang Street to Range Road) over the next two weeks.

Project typeCapital Project with External Funding
Contractor nameStefanutti Construction
Completion Date31 December 2023

Old South Road is a local distributor road that connects the Old Hume Highway to residential areas east of Mittagong and Bowral town centres. The road crosses the range between Mittagong and Bowral and has significant grades on each side of Range Road.

As traffic volumes have grown across the Shire so too has traffic movement increased along Old South Road.

Old South Road is a two-lane road with a flush seal and has minimal to no shoulder areas. The road between Merrigang Street and Bong Bong Road is subject to frost in winter months. Old South Road has a 10 tonne load limit and a posted speed limit of 80 km/h. The roundabout at the intersection of Old South Road and Range Road has lighting which was installed as per standard requirements. For the most part no other lighting is provided between Merrigang Street and Aylmerton Road.

The road presents as a rural road with large private holdings along its length. High voltage transmission poles are located on both sides of Old South Road between Merrigang Street and approximately 1.1 km north-east of the Range Road roundabout. There are numerous trees at various locations and power poles also in the clear zone.

Concerns

Old South Road has average pavement over its length which presents an uneven ride surface over a numerous sections. The area is subject to heavy frosts and fog during winter months with grass in multiple locations encroaching the edge of pavement. The current condition of the pavement compounded with the potential for heavy frosts increase the risk of traffic incidents.

The steep grades associated with moderate curve radii, trees and poles in the clear zone, increased traffic volumes and existing pavement condition raises concern for increased vehicular run-off. This trend is not likely to change given the significant land releases being currently developed in Moss Vale and Mittagong.

The pavement along sections of Old South Road is now becoming dilapidated beyond repair. Heavy maintenance patching is regularly required and, apart from proving uneconomical, it presents additional safety concerns on what is already a narrow and undulating road. Complete reconstruction and suitable subgrade treatment is considered the only solution.

Project funding

The project is funded through a combination of Federal and State government grants and Wingecarribee Shire Council contributions. Funding has been secured from the Safer Roads Program, Fixing Local Roads Program and Local Roads & Community Infrastructure Program.

Construction

The Construction phase of the Old South Road Rehabilitation project commenced in January 2023.

To reduce inconvenience to local business owners and residents, construction will initially focus on the Northern end. Local resident access will be maintained throughout the works.

Works commenced on the 9.7 km stretch of road between Merrigang Street and Range Road in May 2023 and has temporarily closed off this section of road.

This is an extremely important project given the substantial Council resources that have been used to maintain this vital thoroughfare, with regular pot hole rectifications required. Many commuters use Old South Road to navigate between Mittagong, Bowral, and Moss Vale, with traffic levels of more than 6,000 vehicles per day travelling on Old South Road to avoid traffic in congested towns.

Prior to the current rehabilitation project, Old South Road was in a poor condition as it was never designed for this volume of traffic. The rehabilitation will provide a completely reconstructed road with additional safety improvements including rectification of the vertical and horizontal alignments, road widening, audio tactile line marking, and guard rails.

Video: Old South Road Rehabilitation

The footage below was captured on behalf of Wingecarribee Shire Council and Transport for NSW by Bowral video producer and drone operator Darren Powell of Shot to Pieces using state-of-the-art handheld and drone-mounted cameras.

The footage depicts the scale of works and the scope of activities being undertaken, including sub pavement construction and roller compaction, boxing out and widening of the road, excavation and rehabilitation of soft spots, sub pavement stabilisation, grading of sub pavement surfaces to obtain finished levels, material importation and removal, trenching for installation of sub soil drainage, and installation of storm water drainage.

Old South Road will be closed between Bong Bong Road and Aylmerton Road on the 16 January 2023 until December 2023.
Bong Bong to Range Road will be closed from Monday 6 February until December 2023.
Old South Road will be closed between Range Road and Merrigang Street from Monday 22 May 2023 until December 2023.

By undertaking the works under full road closure, it is estimated that the time to complete the project will be significantly reduced.

Old South Road Consultation Plan detour map

Old South Road Consultation Plan - Detour Map

The aim of the Old South Road project is not only the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the existing road pavement but also the inclusion of a number of safety improvements such as the widening and sealing of road shoulders, installation of guardrail at select locations and the installation of audio-tactile edge line marking.

Links to overviews of the design and the review of environmental factors prepared for the works are provided below.