Blacktown Council release new design for Flushcombe, Bungarribee roads

Blacktown Council has unveiled a new design for the intersection of Flushcombe and Bungarribee roads, which has seen dozens of crashes in previous years. But it is $17m away from being reality.

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A plan to fix Blacktown’s most notorious roundabout has been released; now it’s up to the State Government to make it a reality.

The intersection at Flushcombe and Bungarribee roads is known for being congested, confusing and dangerous, with 26 accidents recorded there between 2009 and 2014.

Blacktown Council has designed and costed a new intersection using funds from the Federal Government’s Local Roads Package. It would see the roundabout scrapped and traffic lights take control of vehicle flow.

Blacktown Mayor Stephen Bali (centre) with resident Karam Kaur (left) and Mohammed Malak at the notorious roundabout at the intersection of Flushcombe and Bungarribee roads, Blacktown. Picture: Blacktown Council

Under the plan several houses would also need to be acquired to widen the state-owned roads at entries to the intersection.

Mayor Stephen Bali has urged the State Government to commit to funding the project, which would cost of $17.1 million upfront, an act is has previously refused to do.

“The government essentially has in the budget $10 billion worth of surplus, yet we have all of these roads that need upgrading,” he said. “The government has the money but it won’t invest in our area.”

Blacktown Council's proposed design for a new intersection at Flushcombe and Bungarribee roads. Traffic lights would replace the current roundabout. Picture: Blacktown Council

The current layout. Picture: Blacktown Council

The council’s report said the net cost of the project would be $14.1 million after the re-sale of acquired land.

The report said the current “sub-standard” design made it difficult for drivers to safely pick gaps in traffic, and its pedestrian-activated traffic signals caused “congestion, queues and delays” in peak periods.

Resident Karam Kaur said the roundabout was “too big” and an upgrade was sorely needed.

“I try to avoid the area when I can,” she said.

There have been several accidents at the intersection over the years. Picture: Blacktown Council

It is understood the council and Roads and Maritime Services recently discussed the project, which had been estimated to cost up to $30 million.

An RMS spokeswoman declined to comment on the potential upgrade, only saying that the council had applied for extra federal government grants.

Cr Bali, who is also the Blacktown state Labor MP, stopped short of confirming whether the NSW Opposition would commit to the project if elected next year.

But he claimed the party’s promise to green light the long-awaited $100 million upgrade of Blacktown Rd and Prospect Highway — which Transport for NSW is still planning — showed it was serious about building infrastructure in the area.