Anyone who has driven west along Illaroo Road would have noticed earthmoving works next to the intersection with West Cambewarra Road.
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The work, which has seen the clearing of some land and delivery of relocating fill, started a number of weeks ago is part of the $13.8 million Far North Collector Road to join Illaroo Road and Moss Vale Road
A Shoalhaven City Council spokesperson said the project is currently in the design development stage, however importation and stockpiling of fill material for the future embankment is being carried out.
Then Treasurer and now Prime Minister, Scott Morrison announced the funding in the 2017 Federal Budget with the federal government approving a provisional sum of $13.8 million to progress the network in July 2018.
Council said works are expected to be completed in the 2021 and 2022 calendar years.
"It is expected the Far North Collector Road Network will be completed by December 2022," a council spokesperson said.
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"Council is endeavouring to complete the works earlier if possible."
The road's aim is to assist in reducing traffic volumes on Illaroo Road, currently the only access into/out of North Nowra.
It will allow new growth from the Moss Vale Road (south) Urban Release Area to access North Nowra directly (mitigating the impacts of the Moss Vale Road Urban Release Area's on the state road network).
It will also resolve local access problems during construction of the Moss Vale Road (south) Urban Release Area.
When the road was initially announced it was described as "absolutely necessary" to alleviate pressure on the Shoalhaven River crossing, especially during the $310 million replacement of the southbound iron Nowra bridge with a new four-lane northbound bridge and the construction phase around the Illaroo Road.
At the time it was thought Illaroo Road would have to be permanently closed during the work, however Kiama MP Gareth Ward said through representations the RMS has indicated there would not be a need to permanently close Illaroo Road during the bridge's construction.
RMS designs now show three lanes turning south out of Illaroo Road onto the Princes Highway and a dedicated left lane heading north.
RMS has acquired a number of homes on the northern side of Illaroo Road which will be demolished to allow for the extra southbound and dedicated northbound lane.