Announcement
Road open from 5pm Monday 1 July 2024.
The completed temporary repair (Stage 1) allows the road to remain open for the coming months as Council embarks on a permanent repair (Stage 2). Updates will be provided here.
Subscribe to this page for updates.
The Wool Road was severely impacted following an extreme weather event and declared natural disaster 6 June 2024. The road sustained significant damage after a culvert wall failed causing a sink hole to form. Find information and updates on repair works planned to restore the road on this page.
- Public access
Open
No restrictions
- Where
The Wool Road, Old Erowal Bay 2540
- Project StatusIn Progress
- Last reviewed
01 July 2024
The latest
Stage 1 completed temporary road repair includes:
- Removal of existing steel arch culvert and installation of temporary pipes
- Backfilling of temporary pipes to provide support to the existing concrete beams
- Reinstatement of road pavement to open the road to traffic
Updates on the road design (Stage 2) being developed will be provided here.
Select image to see Stage 1 road repairs
About the works
Road reopens
See media release 1 July 2024
The Wool Road to reopen 5pm Monday 1 July
Below: Completion of Stage 1 temporary road repairs allows locals direct access again
Road failure
Following extreme rainfall 6 June 2024, The Wool Road in Old Erowal Bay was severely damaged after a culvert wall failed causing a sink hole to form in the road.
The damaged area is in a section between Macgibbon Parade and Birriga Avenue and the road will remain closed until an assessment of the damage, the repairs required, the cost of repairs and the time required to undertake them is completed. This unfortunately may take a considerable amount of time.
Initial engineer assessments indicate that it could take up to 10 months to repair the road so a temporary solution is being prepared that will enable two lanes of traffic to go around the damaged section. This work involves installation of a pipe and roadway being built and anticipated to be open on 12 July 2024, weather depending.
We will continue to update the page as more information becomes available about progress of works for the temporary road and the remediation of the existing road.
Detours are in place for motorists traveling to Vincentia, St Georges Basin and Sanctuary Point who are advised to travel via Tomerong and Pine Forest Road. Residents should allow a minimum of an extra 20 minutes when travelling.
A very preliminary consideration of the damage indicates the rehabilitation of this key road could take up to 10 months to repair with interim crossings, or shuttle buses being considered in the short term.
2024 Works history
28/6/2024 - Councils' construction crews are progressing with temporary repair works and are currently ahead of schedule. Final backfilling and pavement works are planned for the remainder of the week and over the weekend. Further updates will be provided early next week.
17/6/2024 - Work site established.
14/6/2024 - Work to install the temporary pipe and roadway will begin Monday 17 June and anticipated to be completed by 12 July 2024, weather depending. The temporary road will accommodate two lanes of traffic and the aim, subject to site conditions and constraints will be to have no load limit. The road is expected to be closed during heavy rain events if water is topping over.
11/06/2024 - Engineers are still assessing the damage and will provide council a repair methodology that includes both interim and permanent repairs.
See media release 14 June 2024
Temporary roadway to reconnect The Wool Road
Below: Work site established Monday 17 June 2024
See media release following natural disaster 6 June 2024
Shoalhaven damage following latest natural disaster
Below: Road failure damage on The Wool Road following natural disaster 6 June 2024
