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Bulli Pass will be shut down in both directions for two months after the October long weekend, the NSW Government announced on Wednesday. The disruptive 24-hour, seven-day-a-week closure will allow for the installation of safety fencing to prevent rock falls. The major northern Illawarra arterial road will be blocked to traffic until December 5, except for two brief re-openings for the arrival of a cruise ship in Port Kembla and the annual Sydney to Gong bike ride. Announcing the closure, Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra Gareth Ward said it was “the safest way to carry out the work, for the long term benefit of all road users”. He said 1.1 kilometres of rock fall protection fencing would be installed from the Princes Motorway to the hairpin bend on Bulli Pass. “The first stage of fencing involves more than 500 metres being installed on high priority areas identified as having an increased risk of rock falls,” he said. “The fence will be installed above the road and barriers will be installed in major gullies to collect debris while vegetation will be cleared and pruned. “The work will greatly improve safety for motorists on this section and has been coordinated with emergency services including New South Wales Police, Fire and Ambulance. The shut down will no doubt hit northern Illawarra residents and commuters, who will be affected by higher volumes of traffic on Mount Ousley Road and Lawrence Hargrave Drive. “Detours will be in place via Lawrence Hargrave Drive and the M1 Princes Motorway, or via Memorial Drive and the M1, increasing journey times by additional 15 to 30 minutes,” Mr Ward said. He said drivers were “advised to allow extra travel time, travel outside of peak or use public transport where possible.” Access for residents will be maintained. Residents have been given two weeks, from August 1, to submit feedback on whether there are any other times between October and December that they believe the road should be reopened. Another closure is expected to take place next year to allow further fencing to be installed, from late April until June. Feedback on the 2016 closure is due by Sunday August 14. Comments can be provided by emailing to southernprojects@rms.nsw.gov.au or by post to: Roads and Maritime Services, PO Box 477, Wollongong NSW 2520.

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