Major Carpark Closure at Mt Ousley Starts Today; Night Works to Impact M1

Commuter Alert: Mt Ousley Infrastructure Milestone

Wollongong commuters should prepare for significant changes to their daily routine starting this morning, Monday, 2 February 2026. As construction on the $390 million Mount Ousley Interchange enters a critical new phase, Transport for NSW has confirmed several major impacts on local traffic flow and parking availability.

Mt Ousley Commuter Carpark Closure

The most immediate change for local workers is the full closure of the Mount Ousley Road commuter carpark, effective from 6:00 am today. The carpark will remain inaccessible until at least Monday, 9 February, to allow for essential work involving the relocation of utilities and the leveling of the road surface. Motorists who typically utilize this facility are advised to seek alternative parking early or consider public transport options to avoid delays. Detours are currently in place via the Princes Highway, Memorial Drive, and University Avenue. Commuters should allow at least an additional ten minutes for their journey while these detours are active.

Nightly Disruptions on the M1 Princes Motorway

In addition to the carpark closure, a new schedule of night works begins tonight. From 7:00 pm on Monday to 6:00 am on Thursday, lane closures and speed restrictions will be in effect on the M1 Princes Motorway at the base of Mount Ousley. These works include bridge abutment construction and extensive excavation. While daytime traffic flow is expected to remain largely unaffected, the reduced speed limits of 40km/h or 60km/h in work zones will remain in place to ensure the safety of crews on-site.

Public Transport and Rail Updates

For those heading toward Sydney, the Sydney Metro network continues its planned testing and connection works. Starting from 9:50 pm tonight, metro services will not operate between Central and Sydenham. Passengers are advised to switch to heavy rail services between these stations. Locally, the South Coast Line is running to a standard weekday timetable following the completion of early-morning maintenance yesterday. However, commuters should remain alert for potential heavy vehicle escorts on Mount Ousley Road, particularly for loads exceeding 4.9 metres in height, which may cause rolling delays of up to 15 minutes.

Regional Impact: Snowy 2.0 Heavy Loads

Regional motorists traveling toward the Snowy Mountains via the Illawarra should note that rolling road closures concluded at 4:00 am this morning following the delivery of large electro-mechanical components from Port Kembla. While the roads are now clear, increased heavy vehicle presence is expected throughout the day as equipment is positioned for the next stage of construction.