Wingecarribee Shire Council is moving ahead with the scoping, detailed design, and detailed cost estimate for first stage of the Moss Vale Bypass with funding from the NSW Government.

The Moss Vale Bypass consists of three stages and will ultimately provide an east-west connection between Moss Vale Road and Berrima Road. This first stage extends from Beaconsfield Road to Suttor Road via a rail overbridge, providing connection to Lackey Road.

This project will include:

Section 1

• Bridge over the Main Southern Railway, McCourt Road and Lackey Road (suitable for Higher Mass Limit Vehicles)
• Two lane (one each way) road from Beaconsfield Road to Suttor Road (approx. 1.5km)
• Road link from the proposed bypass to Lackey Road
• Roundabout at the intersection of the proposed bypass and Suttor Road and at the intersection of the proposed bypass and the Lackey Road link
• “T” intersection at the junction of the proposed bypass and Beaconsfield Road (to be reconstructed to a roundabout in a future stage when the road will be extended to Berrima Road).
• “T” intersection at the junction of Lackey Road and the link road connection to the bypass
• Shared path from Beaconsfield Road to Suttor Road (Bong Bong Cycleway)

Section 2

• Two lane (one lane each way) road from eastern end of stage 1 to Argyle Street (approx. 700m)
• Roundabout at Headlam Road and Argyle Street Intersection
• Cul-de-sac at eastern end of Suttor Road
• Roundabout and connection to Suttor Road between Thwaites Drive and Dyson Place

Section 3

• Two lane (one each way) road from Beaconsfield Road to Berrima Road (approx. 1.4km)
• Roundabout at Bulwer Road
• Roundabout at Berrima Road

Benefits of the project include:

1. Providing a crucial additional crossing of the Main Southern Rail line for Moss Vale, critically one that is not flood affected or height restricted.
2. More equitable distribution of traffic across the network reducing delays throughout the network.
3. Reducing traffic and delay along Argyle Street Moss Vale – this has been a significant issue for many people over several years.
4. Addressing the impacts of recent large residential rezoning's
5. Pedestrian and cycleway connections between Bong Bong Common and the residential areas of north west Moss Vale.

The Project will provide substantial benefits including;

1. Providing a crucial additional crossing of the Main Southern Rail line for Moss Vale, critically one that is not flood affected or height restricted.
   
2. More equitable distribution of traffic across the network reducing delays throughout the network.
   
3. Reducing traffic and delay along Argyle Street Moss Vale – this has been a significant issue for many people over several years. Stage 1 (and all future stages) will assist in addressing the impacts of recent large residential rezoning's
   
4. Pedestrian and cycleway connections between Bong Bong Common and the residential areas of north west Moss Vale.

The Moss Vale Bypass will extend from Moss Vale Road in the east, across the Great Southern Railway and over to Berrima Road.

The route travels through a road corridor secured by Council in the 1980's and 1990's. Visit the Document Library to view the plan in detail.

NSW Transport and Infrastructure Minister, Andrew Constance, and Member for Goulburn,Wendy Tuckerman, announced a $20 million election commitment to the Moss Vale Bypass in 2019. Following negotiations, a grant agreement for $2.4m to cover the design of Stage 1 was signed by Council and Transport for NSW in September 2020.

Council is actively seeking funding for the construction phase, but it is important to fully understand the expected cost before proceeding with any funding opportunities which is why Council is proceeding with the detailed design phase.

The NSW Address Policy and User Manual (Oct 2019) describes a Bypass as an “alternate roadway constructed to enable through traffic to avoid congested areas or other obstructions to movement”.

This new road will provide an alternate route for traffic to avoid congestion through the Moss Vale Central Business District and avoid the flood affected and height restricted crossing under the Main Southern Railway Line. Given that description, this new road fits the definition of a “Bypass.”

It is anticipated that this initial design phase will take 2-3 years. This is to allow time to complete the site investigation, including survey, geotechnical and service locating, then prepare the design incorporating input from several key infrastructure stakeholders and the southern highlands community.

The preferred route for the Moss Vale Bypass was determined in the 1980's with most of the land acquired in the 1990’s.

In the early 2000's several concept designs were prepared including details of the bridge, main intersections, and typical cross sections ahead of preparation of the Section 94 Developer Contributions Plan for the Moss Vale Enterprise Corridor 2013-2050 which was adopted in 2012.

For further details please click here and visit the FAQ's below.

Once the detailed design is complete and the expected costs are known, there is an opportunity for Council to seek funding to conduct the construction phase. Once funding is secured, it is expected that the construction phase would take 2-3 years.

The short answer is we don’t know yet. The design is only at a concept stage and there are numerous things we need to consider in the detailed design.

The project includes a bridge over McCourt Road, Lackey Road and the Main Southern Railway Line plus numerous roundabouts and intersections over 1.5km of new roadway.

There are several underground services which need to be taken into consideration including interstate natural and ethane gas transmission pipelines, nationally significant optic fibre and electrical transmission lines, as well as all the typical services including, electrical, gas, communications, water, sewer, and stormwater.

The design phase will include documenting all the necessary steps to construct this first stage of the Moss Vale Bypass including the bridge, road, shared path, and all service modifications. Once this detail is known, a detailed cost estimate will be prepared by a suitably experienced and qualified Quantity Surveyor. Then we will have a detailed cost estimate based on a detailed scope of works and the existing site constraints which we can rely on for future budgets and seeking grant funding opportunities.

There is no simple answer. Depending on the requirements of a potential buyer, the ease of access and improved connection to the nearby Bong Bong Common cycleway may increase the value of property.

The Moss Vale Bypass will assist with easing traffic congestion within the Moss Vale CBD and will provide more direct routes for residential and industrial traffic through and around Moss Vale.

The construction of a bypass can increase traffic in some areas and decrease congestion in others. The bypass will improve connectivity throughout the road network.

The bypass will be a two lane road, with one lane for each direction, and a shared path.

The shared path is proposed for the full length of the Moss Vale Bypass which will link with the Bong Bong Common Cycleway at Suttor Road. It is expected that any reduction in liveability due to localised increased traffic may be offset by the improved road connectivity and additional amenity provided by the shared path.

Impacts of the Moss Vale Bypass will be fully investigated as part of the Design Phase and an assessment completed in accordance with the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. This will include an assessment of the benefits and adverse impacts across a range of areas including physical and chemical, community, natural resource, Aboriginal and European cultural heritage, and biological impacts.

Council plans to initially work closely with neighbouring property owners and key stakeholders like road, transport, and emergency services. Once the site investigations and initial consultations with these stakeholders have taken place, Council will present a set of concept plans for review and comment by the community.

There is limited opportunity to change the location and alignment of the Moss Vale Bypass given the fixed road reserve and significant constraints including existing development, nationally significant services, and significant transport network.

If you have information or images which could assist the project team to complete the design and/or seek funding for the construction phase please use the form provided to share.

Southern Highlands Innovation Park (SHIP) is approximately 1,023Ha of industrial zoned land on the north west side of Moss Vale. This area has been zoned to support industrial development and generate employment for Moss Vale and the wider Southern Highlands Region.

The SHIP is also known as Moss Vale Enterprise Corridor in Development Control Plans. Further information can be found in the Moss Vale Enterprise Corridor Development Control Plan 2008, which can be accessed here: www.wsc.nsw.gov.au/Development/Development-Control-Plans

The Berrima Road Deviation and the Moss Vale Bypass are both key elements of the transport requirements that will support the development of this employment generating land.