April 4, 2014

New bridge paves the way to expanding Innovation Campus

Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Wellings officially opens important new transport link at UOW's Innovation Campus. 

A new bridge linking the Innovation Campus with Squires Way and Montague Street in North Wollongong was officially opened today (Friday 4 April), providing a vital transport connection to the growing campus and surrounding area.

Since 2006 seven new buildings have been constructed at the Innovation Campus, adding more than 35,000 square metres of floor space and increasing the campus population to more than 1,500 people engaged in commercial enterprises as well as UOW research staff and students.

This rapid growth led UOW to take the decision in 2012 to build a second major entrance to the Innovation Campus from Montague Street, replacing the existing, flood-prone causeway across Cabbage Tree Creek with a bridge suitable for vehicle traffic.

Following agreement to purchase land from Wollongong City Council, work on the bridge began in early 2013. It was completed this year at a cost of $5.5 million.

The new bridge provides a link to and from the Princes Highway to the Campus (from North Wollongong) while alleviating pressure on the existing Squires Way entrance. The bridge also includes improved cycle and footpaths and more than 10,000 plants were planted along the creek banks.

UOW Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Wellings CBE said this significant piece of infrastructure would cater for planned future growth at the campus while maintaining ease of access and traffic flow in the area. It will also enhance links to the light industrial zone on Montague Street.

Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery OAM said: “This bridge will help link the campus with the access through North Wollongong to the main university campus and at the same time it will help make our city safer, easier to access and more enjoyable. This will naturally come about when more people use the access bridge and there are more students walking or cycling through our city streets.

“Together with the free Gong Shuttle, the Innovation Campus is now much more accessible to students and community members. The bridge will help provide a further link in the 87 km of cycleway and shared paths that we have in the city and the 330 km of roadside footpaths. These facilities also encourage healthy lifestyles as more and more people get active and walk and cycle through our city.”