MOTORISTS have been warned to expect delays at peak times now that the southbound carriageway of the Hume Highway at Mittagong has been temporarily closed to motorists.

Between Gibbergunyah Creek and Nattai River Bridges, southbound traffic will use two lanes of the northbound carriageway separated from one northbound lane by a concrete barrier.

These lane closures are needed as part of the project to build two new bridges on the Hume Highway’s Mittagong Bypass and will be in place for the duration of the southbound bridge construction.

Mr Rob De Roy, from the Roads and Traffic Authority, said the work was needed to rectify landslide problems on the so-called ‘Cut Six’ of the Hume Highway.

He explained that since 1993, the RTA has been monitoring settlement from the problematic embankment but a more detailed investigation has now revealed that the rock face is very slowly moving sideways.

The RTA has drawn up plans to construct two bridges across the freeway with supports driven into the embankment to hold it firmly in place.

The time scale of the project has been estimated as 18 months, with each bridge taking roughly six months to complete.

A temporary speed limit of 60km/h will apply during the building work.

Motorists are asked to comply with temporary signposting and exercise caution when travelling through the area.

Police are paying particular attention to the roadwork speed limits currently in force on the

Hume Freeway.