Central Coast Highway: Plans revealed for Wamberal to Bateau Bay upgrade
Plans have been revealed for the Wamberal to Bateau Bay highway upgrade with property acquisition letters in the mail. The $387m upgrade to a 3.8km stretch of the Central Coast Highway is being touted as a congestion buster.
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It's a well known accident and choke zone of the Central Coast.
The 3.8km stretch of Central Coast Highway between Wamberal and Bateau Bay is set for a $387m upgrade with initial plans and designs revealed.
The plan is to start at the Tumbi Rd roundabout, which will be have traffic lights, and widen the highway to two lanes all the way up to Bateau Bay Rd.
New traffic lights are also planned for the Crystal St, Forresters Beach Rd, Bellevue Rd and Passage Rd/Coleridge Rd intersections while the existing traffic lights at Bateau Bay Rd will be modified.
The Cresthaven Ave roundabout will be upgraded to two through lanes in both directions on the highway.
Regional Transport and Roads Minister Paul Toole said the $387m upgrade would improve travel time and safety for the 26,500 motorists who use this section each day.
“This is the first look at the strategic designs for the upgrade and we want feedback from the community to help us continue developing this upgrade,” he said.
“We need to get the planning right to ensure this road is here for many decades to come.”
The Express understands letter have been sent to property owners that are facing property acquisitions today, however Mr Toole did not give an exact number of the properties to be affected.
“There will be some acquisitions and part acquisitions of property but we are working with the landowners to minimise impact,” he said.
Central Coast Parliamentary Secretary Adam Crouch said this section of highway was a “choke point” of congestion on the coast.
“When I talk to people in Forresters Beach the biggest issue is the bottleneck on the highway,” he said.
“One of the first steps will be removing the roundabout on Tumbi Rd and having a traffic signal area. That alone will make a huge difference.
“This is the single biggest dollar value project the State Government has delivered on the Central Coast.”
Mr Crouch said the project was complicated in terms of drainage issues, however would generate jobs for locals.
“With our forecast population growth, we need to deliver projects like these.”
Other features of the upgrade include left in – left out only turns at the Bakali Rd, Alistair Ave and Coleridge Rd (north entry) intersections. Dedicated right turn lanes in and out will be implemented at the Apollo Resort Entry in Wamberal and the Mistview Circuit and Whalans Rd intersections.
There will be new bus bays north and south of the Tumbi Rd intersection and on the northern side of the Passage and Coleridge Rd intersection.
The upgrade also includes a 3m wide shared path along the 3.8km stretch, a 1.5m wide footpath on the western side and a 2m wide on-road cycleway in both directions between Tumbi Road and Cresthaven Ave.
The community will have until July 10 to provide feedback on the plans and designs. The plans can be viewed at nswroads.work/cch.