Notoriously bad in wet weather, Main Road 92 from Nowra to Nerriga has had significant work completed in its 90 million dollar upgrade.

The upgrade is being funded jointly by the NSW ($49 million) and Federal governments ($34 million) as well as Shoalhaven City Council ($12 million).

Stage one, the 24 kilometres from Hames Road, Nowra to Morton National Park, was finished in June 2007.

Construction of Stage two, the nine kilometres which extends from near the Touga Road junction (just east of the Bulee Mountain area at Billy's Hill) to Nerriga, is also being constructed by NACE Civil Engineering Pty Ltd. This stage is now well advanced and is expected to be open to traffic in August 2009 (weather permitting).

Site work on the $25 million contract, awarded to NACE Civil Engineering Pty Ltd, to construct the final stage of the 54 kilometre MR92 Upgrade commenced this month. This contract is the final stage of the upgrade between Nowra and Nerriga and work is expected be completed in late 2010. Clearing of the eastern section from Tianjara Falls to Boolijah Creek has now been undertaken and work is progressing westward towards Sassafras.

This stage will deliver 20 kilometres of upgraded road from Tianjara Falls to Billy's Hill near Bulee Gap and will link the first two stages of the upgrade. Much of this stage of the construction is adjacent to Morton National Park or through Sassafras. While most of the road works closely follow the existing alignment there will be major improvements to the steep incline east of Sassafras.

Stage two includes major improvements, widening, realigning and sealing of the steep and narrow section from Bulee Gap to the Endrick River. A feature of this section of the upgrade is construction of high retaining walls beside the "beehive" rock formations at the western extent of Morton National Park.

The new 4 span concrete bridge near Bulee Gap was opened to traffic earlier this month and 8 kilometres of the new pavement has now been bitumen sealed. Finalisation work in progress includes concrete kerbing, concrete and steel safety barriers, wire rope safety fence, landscaping and revegetation.

Motorists are advised to drive carefully throughout the construction area and also on the remaining sections of gravel road as the road conditions are variable. Information on conditions is available at the project website at www.rta.nsw.gov.au