The Wool Road - Old Erowal Bay - Culvert Replacement

The Wool Road was severely impacted following an extreme weather event and declared natural disaster 6 June 2024. The road sustained significant damage after a culvert wall failed causing a sink hole to form. Find information and updates on repair works planned to restore the road on this page.

The latest

25/11/25 - Last week the project achieved the significant milestone by completing the second stage foundation and placement of the remaining pre-cast culvert units. Works are progressing this week with backfill, headwall construction and road pavements

About the works

Current Media release

Following extreme rainfall 6 June 2024, The Wool Road in Old Erowal Bay was severely damaged after a culvert wall failed causing a sink hole to form in the road.

Specialised rehabilitation works on The Wool Road in Old Erowal Bay will begin after the long weekend in June 2025.

The damaged section of road is between Macgibbon Parade and Birriga Avenue. Construction works include: 

  • Construction of a temporary single-lane side road  
  • Demolition of existing steel arch culvert (pipe under road) 
  • Construction of a new 10 metre wide x 2.1 metre reinforced concrete box culverts and base slab 
  • Construction of culvert headwalls 
  • Construction of sandstone retaining wall 
  • Reinstatement of road pavement and asphalt  
  • Reinstatement of guard rail and line marking

 

2025 - Works history

14/11/25 - A concrete pour is scheduled for Tuesday 18/11/25 for the culvert base slab. The culvert crown units for the remaining length of the culvert are proposed to be installed during a night time road closure on Friday 21/11/25 from 7pm to 5am.

21/10/2025 - Following the overnight road closure, traffic is now directed over a portion of the newly installed reinforced concrete box culverts. Motorists are advised to proceed with caution and follow directions from traffic control. Works are anticipated to be completed mid-December.

15/09/2025 - The first 6 culverts were installed on last night's road closure. Headwall construction and backfill will be carried out in preparation for an upcoming traffic switch.

05/09/2025 - ROAD CLOSURE - The Wool Road will be closed on Sunday, 14th September from 7:00PM to 5:00AM to continue culvert replacement works.
Please consider using alternate routes during this time.

11/09/2025 - The Wool Road east of McGibbon Pde is closed as of this afternoon to all traffic following last night's heavy rain event. Assessment by Councils contractor of the existing one lane section over the culvert works is ongoing, further updates will be provided as they become available.

23/08/25 - Works have progressed well this morning. The road will be open by 2:00PM.

22/08/2025 - An engineering inspection undertaken Friday morning has determined that further repair works are required prior to opening the road to traffic.
Works have commenced immediately and are expected to be completed Saturday. The works will be reinspected when completed with the intention of reopening a single lane under ‘stop go’ arrangements.
Pedestrian access at the site remains open.

21/08/2025 - The Wool Rd is closed due to concerns about road stability from water flow through the culvert. An engineering assessment is pending, and we expect the closure to continue through the weekend and into next week. Traffic Controllers are now implementing the detour as previously used.

12/08/25 - Tuesday night works. Extended delays up to 15 minutes are to be expected this evening between 8:00PM to Midnight.

04/07/2025 - Works will commence from Monday 7th July with a contraflow to be implemented from Wednesday 9th July for the duration of the works. A full road closure for one night only, is planned for Thursday 10th July from 8pm to install temporary barriers. Motorists will need to detour via Tomerong.

01/07/2025 - Works due to commence this week have been delayed due to the current wet weather. Further updates will be provided once the rain subsides with a new date for the installation of the contraflow traffic arrangement.

25/06/2025 - From Monday, 30 June, site activity will increase with compound setup and traffic control works. A contraflow will begin Wednesday, 2 July and remain for the project duration. Expect delays during peak times. Please consider using alternate routes.

13/6/2025 - Minor works expected to commence from Monday 16th June 2025 with no significant impact to traffic. Changes to traffic conditions and delays expected to commence in 2 to 3 weeks. Further updates to be provided.

14/05/2025 - Major repair works on a damaged section of The Wool Rd between Macgibbon Pde & Birriga Ave at Old Erowal Bay will begin mid-June 2025. Weather permitting works will take 5 months to complete. A single lane will be constructed to avoid a detour, but some delays during peak times are to be expected.

07/05/2025 - The tender process is now complete with an announcement of the selected contractor and commencement date to be advised mid-May 2025.

18/03/2025 - Preparation works undertaken by Shoalhaven Water for the major culvert replacement have commenced as planned and are expected to be complete early April. The tender for the culvert replacement has been released and now closes on the 25th March. The next update will be provided following evaluation of tender submissions and works awarded to the successful tenderer.

26/02/2025 - Shoalhaven Water will be undertaking early works of the watermain adjacent the culvert. These works are in preparation for the major culvert upgrade currently out for tender. Works are planned to commence from Monday 3rd March 2025. The road will remain open with motorists advised of trucks turning at the site.

24/02/2025: Council has gone to tender for specialised rehabilitation works on The Wool Road in Old Erowal Bay. As part of the contracted works, a temporary single-lane will be constructed so that lengthy detours can be avoided. The single lane will operate under a traffic light system so there will still be some delays for motorists at peak times. 

 

2024 - Works history

07/05/2025 - The tender process is now complete with an announcement of the selected contractor and commencement date to be advised mid-May 2025.

18/03/2025 - Preparation works undertaken by Shoalhaven Water for the major culvert replacement have commenced as planned and are expected to be complete early April. The tender for the culvert replacement has been released and now closes on the 25th March. The next update will be provided following evaluation of tender submissions and works awarded to the successful tenderer.

26/02/2025 - Shoalhaven Water will be undertaking early works of the watermain adjacent the culvert. These works are in preparation for the major culvert upgrade currently out for tender. Works are planned to commence from Monday 3rd March 2025. The road will remain open with motorists advised of trucks turning at the site.

24/02/2025: Council has gone to tender for specialised rehabilitation works on The Wool Road in Old Erowal Bay. As part of the contracted works, a temporary single-lane will be constructed so that lengthy detours can be avoided. The single lane will operate under a traffic light system so there will still be some delays for motorists at peak times. Read more in the media release below.

17/12/2024: Temporary repairs to The Wool Road will allow the road to remain open over the busy summer period while Council continues to work on a permanent solution. Reinforcement work to the northern pipe culvert will enable the road to stay open until rehabilitation works begin in 2025. All going to plan, construction should begin after the Easter holidays. Read more in the media release below.

31/10/2024 - Shoalhaven City Council will be undertaking additional reinforcement works to the northern culvert from Monday 4 November to Friday 8 November 2024. Works will be scheduled to minimise disruption to local traffic.

1/10/2024 - The detailed design for the Culvert replacement is underway and expected to be completed mid-October 2024. The project is expected to be Tendered for construction in November 2024. 

3/9/2024 - The completed temporary repair (Stage 1) allows the road to remain open for the coming months as Council embarks on a permanent repair (Stage 2). The detailed design for the culvert replacement is underway and expected to be completed mid-September. This project is expected to be Tendered for construction in early October 2024. 

29/7/2024 - The completed temporary repair (Stage 1) allows the road to remain open for the coming months as Council embarks on a permanent repair. The detailed design for the culvert replacement (Stage 2) is underway and expected to be completed late August 2024. The project is expected to be Tendered for construction in September 2024.

 

1/7/2024 - AnnouncementRoad open from 5pm Monday 1 July 2024. The completed temporary repair (Stage 1) allows the road to remain open for the coming months as Council embarks on a permanent repair (Stage 2). Updates will be provided here. Subscribe to this page for updates.

1/7/2024 - The latest: Stage 1 completed temporary road repair includes:

- Removal of existing steel arch culvert and installation of temporary pipes
- Backfilling of temporary pipes to provide support to the existing concrete beams
- Reinstatement of road pavement to open the road to traffic
Updates on the road design (Stage 2) being developed will be provided here.

28/6/2024 - Councils' construction crews are progressing with temporary repair works and are currently ahead of schedule. Final backfilling and pavement works are planned for the remainder of the week and over the weekend. Further updates will be provided early next week.

17/6/2024 - Work site established.

Below: Work site established Monday 17 June 2024

Wool Rd - site established - Adam - 17Jun24.png Wool Rd - site established 1 - Adam - 17Jun24.png

14/6/2024 - Work to install the temporary pipe and roadway will begin Monday 17 June and anticipated to be completed by 12 July 2024, weather depending. The temporary road will accommodate two lanes of traffic and the aim, subject to site conditions and constraints will be to have no load limit. The road is expected to be closed during heavy rain events if water is topping over.

11/06/2024 - Engineers are still assessing the damage and will provide council a repair methodology that includes both interim and permanent repairs.

 

 

Media releases

The Wool Road reconstruction works out to tender | Shoalhaven City Council

The Wool Road fit to stay open after reinforcement works

The Wool Road to reopen 5pm Monday 1 July

Temporary roadway to reconnect The Wool Road

Shoalhaven damage following latest natural disaster

Image gallery