Work on the third and final stage of the $90m Main Road 92 upgrade between Nowra and Nerriga in New South Wales, Australia, has started.

The final stage of the project will deliver 20km of upgraded road from Tianjara Falls to Billy’s Hill near Bulee Gap at a cost of $25m.

The final stage will improve the steep incline east of Sassafras and link the first two stages of the project to provide a safer road for local families as well as tourists, according to NSW Roads Minister Michael Daley.

The first stage of the project included a 24km stretch from Hames Road to Morton National Park and was completed in June 2007, while the second stage covering 9km from Bulee to Nerriga is nearing completion and will be open to traffic by the end of this year.

The project is being jointly funded by the NSW ($49m) and federal governments ($34m) as well as the Shoalhaven City Council ($12m) and is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2010.