Mt Ousley interchange upgrade

Transport for NSW are building an interchange on the M1 Princes Motorway.  The new interchange will replace the existing intersection of the Princes Motorway and Mount Ousley Road, improving connectivity, safety and access to the campus with an additional entrance.

Transport for NSW has a vision for the interchange that is integrated within its surroundings, while establishing a strong identity as the northern gateway to Wollongong and the South Coast. Fulton Hogan have been awarded the contract to design and build the new interchange by Transport for NSW.

Major construction work is now underway.

The Urban Design and Landscape Strategy Report (UDLSR) on the project website, outlines the design and landscape vision and objectives for the project.

Other improvements to vehicle, pedestrian and cyclist connectivity being delivered as part of the project include:

• a new four-metre-wide pedestrian and cyclist shared path over the M1 Princes Motorway and the new southbound access road near the University of Wollongong;
• an extension and upgrade of the existing pedestrian bridge over the M1 Princes Motorway at Northfields Avenue; and
• connection of the existing shared path on Helen Street and adjacent to the TAFE NSW Wollongong campus, connecting the existing path to the pedestrian bridge at Northfields Avenue, improving access to the TAFE and UOW.

These improvements provide two connections between TAFE NSW Wollongong and the University of Wollongong campus over the M1 Princes Motorway, improving connections between the education precincts and residential areas for all path users.

For the latest information on the project, Refer to the Mt Ousley interchange project website for more information on current and future works.

There will be impacts to UOW as part of this project. Information for the UOW community will be updated on this page as the project progresses.

Project animation

Transport for NSW has released a new animated overview of the M1 Princes Motorway interchange currently under construction at the base of Mount Ousley next to Wollongong campus.

The animation shows the different features that will significantly improve access, safety and connectivity for our university community, as well as other road and active transport users around Wollongong campus, including:

A new northern access road linking the M1 and Mount Ousley Rd directly into campus, easing congestion and streamlining entry. Signalised intersections from the M1 southbound exit and Mount Ousley Rd into the new road via a roundabout will improve traffic flow into the campus, especially during peak times at the start of session.

Shared pedestrian and cyclist paths and the new Mount Ousley bridge are integrated into this northern access road, which will enhance active transport connections between Wollongong campus with surrounding suburbs and Innovation campus.

Safety upgrades will separate heavy and light vehicles, and new landscaping and environmental mitigation measures are planned to restore the area post-construction.

Watch the animation.

More information

For further information about this project, please contact:

Phone: 1800 792 918

Email: MountOusleyInterchange@fultonhogan.com.au

Mail: Mount Ousley interchange, PO Box 477 Wollongong NSW 2520

For UOW related enquiries, please contact transport-project@uow.edu.au. 

The M1 Princes Motorway interchange currently under construction at the base of Mount Ousley will kick up a gear in early 2026, with the new northern entrance to Wollongong Campus beginning to take shape from February. 

The interchange is set to become the “gateway to Wollongong and the Illawarra” and will significantly improve access, safety and connectivity for our university community, as well as other road and active transport users around Wollongong campus. 

P5 carpark construction in 2026 

Fulton Hogan, who are engaged by Transport for NSW to deliver the Mount Ousley interchange project, will take possession and erect fencing around a section of the P5 carpark in early February. 

This area of the carpark will ultimately become the new “Northern Entrance” into Wollongong Campus, where commuters will enter via Djeera Way. 

When the road is completed, it will improve traffic flow into campus, especially during peak times at the start of session. Djeera Way will not only be a new entry and exit to Wollongong campus for vehicles, but it will also feature a shared path for pedestrians and cyclists. See for yourself the scale of the project in this new animation. 

There will be acute impacts to Wollongong campus parking and vehicle access during this phase of construction.

Some, but not all, of the car spaces sectioned off during construction will be returned in the P5 carpark following completion of the new road. The Infrastructure and Property Division are working on a range of measures to minimise the impacts from the loss of parking where possible, including upgrades to other carparks around campus. More information on these mitigation measures will be provided in the coming weeks.

From 23 February at the start of Autumn Session 2026 traffic will significantly increase and parking will be in even greater demand due to the changes to P5 carpark. Please consider alternative transport options including buses, train, walking or cycling where possible. 

We will keep you informed of all future developments on this page.

Pedestrian and cyclist bridge

In September, Fulton Hogan (who are delivering the Mount Ousley interchange project for Transport for NSW), completed the upgraded footbridge connecting UOW with the Wollongong TAFE precinct at the eastern end of Northfields Ave.  Major construction started in January, and more than 9000 hours of work went into replacing the old steep spiral ramp with a new, more accessible ramp that improves pedestrian access to the bridge by providing a gentler slope.  A total of 525 tonnes of concrete was required, along with 57 tonnes of reinforcement material and about 239 linear metres of new handrail.

Pedestrians and cyclists travelling to campus from North Wollongong train station should continue following signage for detours via Foleys Lane and the TAFE NSW Wollongong car park to access the footbridge.

Construction on new paths around the footbridge will continue in 2026 and updates will be shared when any potential impacts are known. For the latest information on the project, refer to the July 2025 update (pdf) or the project website.

Vegetation removal

Extensive vegetation removal, including mulching, commenced on the southern side of the M1 Princes Motorway near the University earlier in 2025. Vegetation removal in this area will allow the project team to build the new bridge over the M1 Princes Motorway, a new northbound onramp, the new commuter carpark and the new access road into the University of Wollongong. The project team use a number of measures to mitigate the loss of vegetation, more information about these can be found in the vegetation removal factsheet on the project’s website.

Mount Ousley Rd shared path bridge

Transport for NSW is also carrying out early design and planning for a shared path bridge across Mount Ousley Road that will provide improved connections for people walking and cycling between the University of Wollongong and TAFE precincts and suburbs to the north.

View the concept design plans on the Transport for NSW website.