EMERGENCY repair works have started on Whitty Road, Helensburgh to return it to two-way access.

Sections are currently down to single lane traffic following damage to the road and adjacent embankments from the April natural disaster.

As a result of the event, the Camp Gully headwall had significant additional scouring around it, with stormwater washing away grass and soil to expose and move large boulders and undermine the road surface and handrail.

Wollongong City Council Director Infrastructure and Works Joanne Page said plans were already in place for improvements to the Camp Gully headwall.

Council now needs to revisit that design to ensure the plans takes into consideration the impacts of stormwater damage from the April rain event.

“This work is underway, but it will take some time until we’re able to get onsite and complete the works associated with the comprehensive project that’ll see a complete re-design of the current headwall,” Ms Page said.

“To support the Helensburgh community in the meantime, we’ll have teams on the ground to repair the sections of the road that are currently down to just one lane of traffic so that it can be reopened to two-way traffic enabling residents to go about their daily routines easier.”

The Whitty Road work is expected to take about two weeks to be completed. While there will be traffic control to support residents move through, there may be some delays while the work is underway.

Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery said Council is continuing to work through the scheduling and prioritising of repairs for the city following the natural disaster.

“It continues to be a real challenge for Council to respond to this event that saw significant damage right across the city,” he said.

“While we completed the immediate clean up as quickly as possible, we are going to be faced with more complex repair works like that at Whitty Road for some time yet.

“We’re grateful to our residents’ patience as we continue to complete repairs as quickly as we can.”

Free subscription to The Bulli & Clifton Times

OR DONATE BY CREDIT CARD

Don’t have PayPal? Instead, you can support The Bulli & Clifton Times by leaving a secure $2 debit or credit card donation. Your generous patronage of my work and research, however small it appears to you, will greatly help with my continuing publication costs.