The pre-election noise about the Princes Highway has died down. Now, sleeves are being rolled up and the hard work is about to begin - even though it's unlikely to become visible for at least a year.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
When the NSW budget was handed down this week, some people were quick to jump on the fact the highway attracted only $7.1 million for the next financial year.
After such big promises, surely the budget should have contained more, some shouted.
Well, no.
Road building is an intricate, complex business that requires detailed planning and $7.1 million for this purpose over the next 12 months is not to be sniffed at.
Anyone travelling north through Oak Flats and Yallah could not help but notice the roadworks associated with the Albion Park Rail bypass. It's a multimillion project but it started out with just $100,000 for planning in its first year.
The highway upgrade at Gerringong took almost two years to move from the initial planning phase to the turning of the first sod.
So this initial injection of cash to get the ball rolling, while a small component of the $962 million promised, is significant.
So, too, is the commitment from the federal government of more than $400 million for the Milton Ulladulla bypass, a significant choke point on the highway. The route for that was drawn up and gazetted in 1996 and properties have been acquired to accommodate it.
Once detailed planning over challenging topography is complete, the federal money will bring it much closer to becoming reality.
Of perhaps even greater significance was the flagging by Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack of an 80-20 funding split - not just for the Milton Ulladullla bypass but for the entire Princes Highway.
South Coast MP Shelley Hancock was at the press conference when Mr McCormack told reporters 80-20 funding was the way his government rolled. As far as she's concerned, it was a solid commitment NSW will hold him to.
What's important now is that the NSW Government keeps residents informed of progress with the upgrades. This not only keeps South Coast residents in the loop but builds momentum on the upgrades.
This flow of information happened with the upgrades north of Nowra and set expectations the long talked of highway improvements would become reality.