The upgrade would replace the existing intersection of Mt Ousley Road and the M1 Princes Motorway.

A Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) spokesman said it would help eliminate the safety issues confronted by motorists.

“The existing intersection has a range of safety and efficiency issues including long delays during peak periods, a poor safety record at the right turn from Mount Ousley Road onto the Princes Motorway and merge conflicts between slow-moving heavy vehicles and fast-moving light vehicles,” the spokesman said.

A key part of the interchange is the creation of a new entrance and exit to the University of Wollongong, which would link in with the campus’ northern car park.

Offering another entry and exit point would also alleviate traffic congestion at the University Avenue off-ramp, which sees a long queue of vehicles leaving the motorway to head to either the university or Wollongong TAFE.

The interchange – estimated to cost as much as $100 million – would also remove the right-hand turn from Mt Ousley Road onto the motorway while retaining the left-hand turn.

Motorists from Mt Ousley Road looking to travel north along the motorway could still do so by using an overpass and merging onto the motorway via a roundabout near the new university entrance.

There is also a plan to relocate the existing commuter car park on Mt Ousley Road as part of the interchange.

The interchange is still in the planning stages, with $1 million allocated in this week’s state budget.

This is in addition to the $500,000 put forward in the previous budget.

RMS is calling for community feedback on the preferred option until July 18.

Feedback will be used to refine the design during the environmental assessment.

Information on the preferred option and a community survey are available at rms.nsw.gov.au/MountOusleyInterchange.

Drop-in information sessions are planned on June 30 between 5-8pm or July 2 10am-1pm at the Fairy Meadow Community Centre.