The closure of Bulli Pass has forced Wollongong City Council to put a key project on hold until the middle of next year.
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There are two planned closures of Bulli Pass – the first will run from 9am next Tuesday until December 5.
The second two-month closure, to finish work on the rock fall protection fencing, is expected to be from April to June.
Because of these closures, Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) has refused to grant approval for council to start work on three sections of its Grand Pacific Walk until the pass is reopened in June next year.
The reason for the refusal is that part of the works for the walk will take place along Lawrence Hargrave Drive, which is one of two detour routes during the Bulli Pass closure.
RMS has committed to ensuring no work is carried out on the detour routes during the closure to minimise possible traffic congestion.
“Council originally planned to commence work on the next stage of the Grand Pacific Walk commencing in the first quarter of the 2016/17 financial year,” a council spokeswoman said.
The closure of Bulli Pass has forced Wollongong City Council to put a key project on hold until the middle of next year.
“Following confirmation of the closure of Bulli Pass and the impact on the original program, council revised the proposed works program and sought approval of the revised timeframes from the funding body, Infrastructure NSW.”
That approval has since been received.
The spokeswoman said having to delay the Grand Pacific Walk will not affect any other council project.
An RMS spokesman said representatives met with council to discuss the closure in April.
“At this meeting, council acknowledged the importance of Bulli Pass remaining a safe and reliable route for the region and indicated it was appreciative of the advanced warning to ensure it could re-schedule work around the closure,” the spokesman said.
“Council was informed no permits for work would be issued on any of the detour routes during the closure to ensure traffic could be adequately managed.”
Keira MP Ryan Park was not happy to hear the project had been delayed due to the closure.
“It is disappointing progress on the Grand Pacific Walk will be delayed as a result of Bulli Pass closing for two months,” Mr Park said.
The Grand Pacific Walk is a system of shared pathways running from the Royal National Park to Lake Illawarra.
Three sections of the pathway have been halted due to the closure – stage one from Stanwell Park to Coalcliff, stage two from Coalcliff Station to Lower Coast Road and the fourth stage from Marrawal Road to Station Street in Stanwell Park.
Some sections of pathway in the first stage have already been completed but more still needed to be done to link them together.
That work is now on hold until the middle of 2017.