Wilfred Barrett Dr: Works start on safety update including road widening

Safety updates are set to start on one of the Central Coast’s most notoriously dangerous roads. It comes less than a week after a cyclist’s death. Here’s what’s planned.

Safety works are set to begin on a notorious stretch of road between The Entrance and Magenta.

Wilfred Barrett Drive has been the scene of many horrific accidents and fatalities over the years, making it one of the coast’s deadliest stretches of road.

On Sunday a 72-year-old cyclist died after being struck by a car on the Wilfred Barrett Dr at Magenta.

Safety works will include road widening and new rumble strips and centre lines.

Central Coast Parliamentary Secretary Adam Crouch said work would focus on a four-kilometre section of Wilfred Barrett Drive between Pelican Beach Road and Wyuna Ave.

The notorious stretch of road has been the scene of many accidents over the years. Picture: NSW Ambulance

“The upgrade includes widening the road to provide a one-metre-wide central median as well as three-metre-wide southbound shoulders and roadside safety barriers,” Mr Crouch said.

“Rumble strips will also be installed along the centre and edges of the road to alert drivers when they are drifting out of their lane and off the road or into oncoming traffic.

“These safety measures have been shown to reduce fatalities and injuries caused by head-on crashes by up to 65 per cent which is why the NSW Government is making a significant funding contribution on this notorious road.”

NSW Regional Transport and Roads Minister Paul Toole said the State Government was investing $22.5m to reduce the risk and severity of crashes for more than 17,000 motorists who use the road daily.

Safety works will be carried out on this 4km stretch of Wilfred Barrett Dr.

“Wilfred Barrett Drive is a key route connecting The Entrance to Noraville and further to the northern parts of the Central Coast,” Mr Toole said.

“This project will not only ensure the thousands of motorists using it daily get home safely at the end of each day, but it has also generated work for 60 locals and contractors throughout construction.”

The project will also provide right turn bays into Pelican Beach Road and the car park for the Red Gum Trail walking track.

Works will be carried out between 7pm to 5am from Sunday to Thursday and is expected to be completed by mid-2022

Earlier – June 7, 2021

A cyclist has died after being struck by a car on the Central Coast at the weekend.

Police say the cyclist, a 72-year-old man, was riding along Wilfred Barrett Dr in Magenta when he was struck at about 1.30pm on Sunday.

He was treated at the scene and was flown to John Hunter Hospital where he died a short time later.

Wilfred Barrett Dr, Magenta. Picture: Google Maps

The driver of the Hyundai, a 66-year-old woman, escaped injury and underwent mandatory testing.

Tuggerah Lakes Police are investigating the crash and a report will be prepared for the Coroner.