Tumbi Rd, Central Coast Highway roundabout upgrade to traffic lights

Ten minute peak hour delays will be slashed under plans to upgrade one of the coast’s busiest roundabouts to traffic lights with residents urged to have their say. See the concept plans here.

The Tumbi Rd, Central Coast Highway roundabout upgrade to traffic lights will be fast tracked as the first stage of a $387 million project to widen the highway to two lanes between Wamberal and Bateau Bay.

Concept plans for the intersection upgrade have been released with residents encouraged to have their say on the final design by early November.

Terrigal State Liberal MP Adam Crouch said about 26,500 motorists use the stretch of the highway every day.

He said there would be some minor land acquisitions to accommodate the wider intersection and highway but the “good news” was the iconic fruit and vegetable shop, Valley Fruit Wamberal, would stay with Transport for NSW looking to build it a car park subject to the owner’s consent.

“In May this year we engaged WSP Australia Pty Ltd to develop the full design, as

previous community feedback requested that the Tumbi Road intersection be fast tracked,” Mr Crouch said.

“During peak hour, motorists currently experience nine-minute delays at the existing Central Coast Highway and Tumbi Road roundabout.”

Mr Crouch said the concept design and review of environment factors (REF) was now

publicly available and open for comment.

Terrigal State Liberal MP Adam Crouch at the roundabout at Tumbi Rd and Central Coast Highway which will be upgraded to traffic lights. Picture: Richard Noone

“I am inviting the community to view the proposal, which involves replacing the

roundabout with new traffic lights as well as widening the intersection to reduce

queuing and improve traffic flow, and provide feedback directly to Transport for NSW,”

Mr Crouch said.

“Feedback will be accepted until 5pm on Tuesday, November 2, so I encourage all

residents and stakeholders to have a say.

“Upgrading this incredibly busy intersection will not be easy but it is an incredibly

important project, and we are not going to shy away from the hard work.”

To view the concept design, REF and for more information on the upgrade, go to:

nswroads.work/cch.

Artist impression of the upgrade of the Tumbi Rd, Central Coast Highway roundabout to traffic lights looking south. Picture: Transport for NSW

Transport for NSW will also host an online information session at 10am on Wednesday, October 20, where residents can learn more about the upgrade and ask the project team questions.

Under the concept plans there will be two right turn lanes out of Tumbi Rd onto the highway southbound and a U-turn bay in front of Pacific Garden Hotel for southbound traffic.

The plans also include new and upgraded footpaths, an interim transition from two lanes into the existing one lane northbound near Forresters Beach Garden Centre on the highway until further widening is complete and relocating two existing bus stops to a common location northbound on the Central Coast Highway north of the intersection.

A spokeswoman for Valley Fruit Wamberal said it was “wonderful” the roadside green grocery would remain.

“All they told us was there’s a couple of plans on the table,” she said.