The Wool Road - Old Erowal Bay - Road Failure

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

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.
 
Select image to view Stage 1 road re-opening

About the works

Media releases

The Wool Road to reopen 5pm Monday 1 July

Temporary roadway to reconnect The Wool Road

Shoalhaven damage following latest natural disaster

Road failure

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.

The damaged area is in a section between Macgibbon Parade and Birriga Avenue and the road will remain closed until an assessment of the damage, the repairs required, the cost of repairs and the time required to undertake them is completed. This unfortunately may take a considerable amount of time.

Initial engineer assessments indicate that it could take up to 10 months to repair the road so a temporary solution is being prepared that will enable two lanes of traffic to go around the damaged section. This work involves installation of a pipe and roadway being built and anticipated to be open on 12 July 2024, weather depending.

We will continue to update the page as more information becomes available about progress of works for the temporary road and the remediation of the existing road. Detours are in place for motorists traveling to Vincentia, St Georges Basin and Sanctuary Point who are advised to travel via Tomerong and Pine Forest Road. Residents should allow a minimum of an extra 20 minutes when travelling.

A very preliminary consideration of the damage indicates the rehabilitation of this key road could take up to 10 months to repair with interim crossings, or shuttle buses being considered in the short term.

Image gallery

2024 Works history

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.

 

 

   

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