New Push For Berry Bypass
Illawarra Mercury
Monday March 10, 2008
SHOALHAVEN City Council will lobby the RTA to have a southern bypass of Berry included in the proposed Princes Hwy upgrade from Gerringong to Bomaderry.
Shoalhaven council has also backed the "yellow" option that follows the railway south of Gerringong and cuts through Toolijooa.This puts the council at odds with neighbouring Kiama Municipal Council which supported the "green" option.Kiama council said the green option, which follows the existing highway to Toolijooa Rd, would minimise the impact on the environment and the landscape.However, Shoalhaven Mayor Greg Watson said the flat and more direct yellow option would provide more long term environmental benefits through reduced fuel use. Councillor Watson said the same logic applied to a southern bypass of Berry, which was a surprise omission from the seven options announced last November.The seven options range in cost from $750 million to $880 million.A southern bypass of Berry was considered by the RTA as recently as 1996.The RTA said the southern option was discarded because of the need for expensive bridges needed to cross the South Coast railway line, traffic noises coming from an elevated road and significant cost, construction time and risk to cross the floodplain.A preferred option is expected to be identified by the end of the year. Meantime, Shoalhaven councillor Gareth Ward presented a petition of 195 signatures to the council calling on the NSW Government to reinstate the 100km/h speed limit between Omega and Foxground.A petition signed by 750 Gerringong residents led to the speed limit being cut to 80km/h late last year.
© 2008 Illawarra Mercury
