WEST CAMBEWARRA ROAD
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A CONSULTANT company, now known as Halliburton KBR Pty Ltd was commissioned by Shoalhaven City Council in June 2001 to examine options for a Bomaderry/North Nowra link road.
The initial study in 1995 examined five options, two of which were east of the existing West Cambewarra Road, and one utilising the existing West Cambewarra Road alignment.
That study found the West Cambewarra options would not measurably ease the traffic on Illaroo Road.
Councillor Jane Bange has been lobbying for council to develop the existing road reserve, or adopt an option which would be west of the existing West Cambewarra Road.
The main stumbling block against using the existing road reserve, is that the RTA has indicated it would not approve another road feeding into the roundabout at Glendon Motors.
The current study is on hold, waiting for traffic modelling in connection with council's Nowra/Bomaderry structure plan to be completed.
Bolong road overpass
WHILE the debate raged over where a link should be established between Bomaderry and North Nowra, a traffic policeman came up with a scheme in 1999 to relieve traffic congestion at the Shoalhaven River bridge.
Sergeant Adrian Danslow's idea involved an overpass link between Bolong Road and Illaroo Road.
"This would allow the complete removal of traffic lights at the Princes Highway and Illaroo Road intersection, and alleviate the constant stopping and queuing problem" he said.
"Such a construction would mean all pylon supports would be on dry land and not on the river bed, reducing the cost.
However, Shoalhaven City Council's city services manager, Barry Russell said the suggestion would not solve the problem of increased traffic on Illaroo Road.
"The original link road was aimed at reducing traffic at the Illaroo Road/Princes Highway intersection, and along Illaroo Road," he said.
Third River crossing
SHOALHAVEN City Mayor Greg Watson believes the RTA should urgently look at constructing a third crossing of the Shoalhaven River.
"The plans the RTA have at the moment are for a complete bypass of Nowra, and that's 40 years away, and you would be looking at spending $60 to $100 million," Cr Watson said.
"And a bypass of the town would not solve the traffic problems in North Nowra.
"What we need to be looking at is a bridge to the west of the new bridge.
"That way the two pavements could be merged, and it would be easy to dedicate two lanes to Illaroo Road traffic, removing it from the highway traffic.
"That way you could remove the traffic lights at Illaroo Road.
"The existing bridges carry 46,000 vehicles a day, and capacity is fast running out.
"I wouldn't suggest placing the additional bridge to the east of the existing structures.
"The acquisition cost of land in the area would be horrendous."
Illaroo Road's 15,300 cars a day
STATISTICALLY speaking, Illaroo Road has been carrying far in excess of the recommended traffic load for a residential street.
At last count, in June this year, 15,300 cars used the road every day.
According to the studies done by Mitchell McCotter back in 1995, by 2011 Illaroo Road is expected to be carrying 25,573 vehicles a day.
Again, according to Mitchell McCotter, this figure would only be reduced by about 5000 vehicles a day if any of the West Cambewarra Road options are adopted.
However, an estimate of accidents per million vehicle kilometres in 2011 shows that the West Cambewarra Road options would significantly reduce accident rates from 10.6 if no link is established down to 7.86.
Back in 1995, it was estimated that the West Cambewarra Road options would cost from $5.8 million to $7.7 million, whereas the Shoalhaven City Council preferred route, Narang Road to Pitt Street, North Nowra, would have cost from $4.8 to $7.7 million.