New Mount Ousley Safety Ramp Opens; UOW Detours in Place for Morning Peak

Major Milestone: New Heavy Vehicle Safety Ramp Opens

Commuters and heavy vehicle operators traveling into Wollongong this morning, Thursday, 2 April 2026, are seeing a significant change to the landscape of the M1 Princes Motorway. Following a series of scheduled night closures, the first of two new heavy vehicle safety ramps at the base of Mount Ousley officially opened at 4:00 AM today. This milestone is part of the ongoing Mount Ousley interchange project, designed to improve safety for trucks and cars navigating the steep descent.

While the full road closures between Bulli Tops and Memorial Drive have now concluded for this maintenance block, motorists should remain alert. With the new ramp now operational, traffic patterns have shifted slightly. Transport for NSW advises all drivers to maintain awareness and follow the newly installed signage as they adjust to the new configuration on the descent.

UOW and Education Precinct Detours

Heavy congestion is expected around the University of Wollongong (UOW) and TAFE NSW precinct during the morning peak. Traffic management activities are in effect between 7:45 AM and 9:15 AM to manage the high volume of students and staff. Drivers should be aware of the following specific changes:

• University Avenue Exit: Motorists exiting the M1 Motorway at University Avenue are being diverted left to perform a U-turn at the eastern roundabout.
• Southbound Access: University-bound travelers are being detoured via the southern access route using Murphys Avenue and Robsons Road.
• Gwynneville Exit: Northbound motorists using the Gwynneville exit are being detoured to the roundabout at Northfields Avenue to access Irvine Street.
• M1 Northbound Access: To avoid delays, drivers from Keiraville or Gwynneville wishing to access the M1 Princes Motorway northbound are encouraged to use the Robsons Road entry at West Wollongong.

Public Transport and Special Events

The Sydney Royal Easter Show begins today, Thursday, 2 April, at Sydney Olympic Park. This is expected to increase passenger numbers on the South Coast Line throughout the day. While regular train services are running to a standard weekday timetable, commuters heading toward Sydney should expect busier carriages than usual. Transport officials are encouraging the use of public transport to reach the event, as parking in the Olympic Park precinct is limited and pre-booked.

Upcoming Holiday Traffic Warning

Looking ahead to the afternoon and evening, traffic volumes are expected to rise significantly across Wollongong and the M1 as the autumn school holidays begin tomorrow, Friday, 3 April. Additionally, for those planning late-night travel toward Sydney, be advised that temporary lane and ramp closures are scheduled on the Warringah Freeway starting from 10:00 PM tonight. If you are heading through the city late this evening, allow at least 20 minutes of extra travel time for these major upgrade works.