Tripoli Way extension moves closer to reality with final designs released
Construction begins this year, ends in 2028
After more than six decades of planning, the final designs for the Tripoli Way extension in Albion Park have been released..
The extension of Tripoli Way was first identified by Shellharbour City Council in 1961 as part of a long-term strategic plan to manage the local government area’s growing community, and was later included in Council’s Section 94 Contributions Plan in 1993.
The project’s completion has now moved within reach, with Shellharbour City Council progressing through a tender process with preferred contractors for the main construction works.
Key design features include:
A two‑kilometre road corridor
A 30‑metre bridge over Hazelton Creek
Three signalised intersections
Four traffic lanes between Terry Street and Moles Street
Two traffic lanes between Moles Street and Broughton Avenue
Connections to the Illawarra Highway delivered in collaboration with Transport for NSW
Construction is expected to begin later this year, with the project due for completion in late 2028.
Release of the designs is a watershed moment for the region, Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast, Ryan Park said.
“This is a significant milestone, and one that brings us one step closer to delivering infrastructure that will service communities like Albion Park and Calderwood now and into the future,” he said. “As more and more people choose to call the Illawarra home, the Minns Government is investing in the infrastructure we need to support this growth.”
Shellharbour City Mayor Chris Homer, who has consistently championed the project, described it as a huge infrastructure project. “The Tripoli Way Extension is a vital project for our growing community, enhancing the efficiency and safety of our roads.”It is a centrepiece of the council’s capital works program, which includes more than $76 million in spending for 2025–2026.
Minister for Roads, Jenny Aitchison described the reveal as “a great day for the communities of Albion Park and Calderwood”.
The Tripoli Way Extension will alleviate congestion on the Illawarra Highway in Albion Park by establishing an uninterrupted travel route connecting Terry Street in the east to the Illawarra Highway at Broughton Avenue in the west, bypassing the town centre.
The final designs follow an additional $20 million investment by the NSW Government in August last year, bringing the state’s total contribution to over $40 million since March 2023. That investment unlocked the full scope of the $74 million project — including the much-needed future upgrade of the Terry Street and Tripoli Way intersection — with the balance funded by Shellharbour City Council and developer contributions.
Construction is expected to begin later this year, with the project forecast to be completed by late 2028.
More information about the Tripoli Way extension project is available, via Shellharbour council, here.
From three years ago: