mountain pass
A mountain pass is a navigable route through a mountain range or over a ridge. Since many of the world's mountain ranges have presented formidable barriers to travel, passes have played a key role in trade, war, and both Human migration, human a ...
with an elevation of located northwest of ,
New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
,
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
Illawarra
The Illawarra is a coastal region in the Australian state of New South Wales, nestled between the mountains and the sea. It is situated immediately south of Sydney and north of the South Coast region. It encompasses the two cities of Wollongo ...
coastal plain. It was built during the 19th century for use by loggers and locals transporting goods to and from
Sydney
Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...
. Beforehand sea travel was the only reliable method.
The pass is traversed by the
Princes Highway
Princes Highway is a major road in Australia, extending from Sydney via Melbourne to Adelaide through the states of New South Wales, Victoria (Australia), Victoria and South Australia. It has a length of (along Highway 1) or via the former ...
from the
Illawarra
The Illawarra is a coastal region in the Australian state of New South Wales, nestled between the mountains and the sea. It is situated immediately south of Sydney and north of the South Coast region. It encompasses the two cities of Wollongo ...
plain in the south-east to the Woronora Plateau in the north-west, rising over in doing so. The pass has a scenic lookout at the top of Bulli Mountain, near Sublime Point Lookout, and this is the sight of the under construction Southern Gateway project. The pass is protected bushland under the Bulli Pass reserve and walking tracks to the lookouts are under repair since 2003.
The pass was the first major route out of the plain, not including
Mount Keira
Mount Keira () is a suburb and mountain in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia.
Mount Keira is a site of significant cultural heritage for the Wodi Wodi people. The name Mount Keira derives from the Wodi Wodi name for the mounta ...
Road built in 1834 by convicts or O'Briens Road, a private tollway.
The Bulli Pass is mainly a two lane undivided road with a steep, winding alignment through a geologically constrained area. The pass has steep slopes both above and below the road. The maximum grade on Bulli Pass is 14.6 per cent. In 2014, the average daily traffic volume over the pass was 12,000 vehicles with an annual growth rate of 1.4 per cent. Heavy vehicles account for about five per cent of total vehicle movements over the pass.
In 2008 the pass was subject to a major rock fall that required slope stabilisation works with the Princes Highway closed for seven weeks. Following a serious rock fall in 2015 that landed on a vehicle, there were extensive investigations into the upslope section of Bulli Pass. To ensure the long term safety and stability of Bulli Pass,
Roads & Maritime Services
A road is a linear way for the conveyance of traffic that mostly has an improved surface for use by vehicles (motorized and non-motorized) and pedestrians. Unlike streets, the main function of roads is transportation.
There are many types of ...
closed the road to traffic from October 2016 to December 2016, and again from April to June 2017, to install of rock fall protection barrier fencing, from the M1
Princes Motorway
The Princes Motorway is a predominantly dual carriage untolled motorway that links Sydney to Wollongong and further south through the Illawarra region to . Part of the Australian Highway 1 network, the motorway is designated with the route ...
to the hairpin bend.
See also
*
Lawrence Hargrave Drive
Lawrence Hargrave Drive, part of the Grand Pacific Drive, is a scenic coastal road and popular tourist drive connecting the northernmost suburbs of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia, to Wollongong, in the south, and Sydney, in the north ...
*
Princes Highway
Princes Highway is a major road in Australia, extending from Sydney via Melbourne to Adelaide through the states of New South Wales, Victoria (Australia), Victoria and South Australia. It has a length of (along Highway 1) or via the former ...
*
Princes Motorway
The Princes Motorway is a predominantly dual carriage untolled motorway that links Sydney to Wollongong and further south through the Illawarra region to . Part of the Australian Highway 1 network, the motorway is designated with the route ...