Baulkham Hills state Labor candidate calls for underpass to beat congestion at Windsor Rd

Baulkham Hills state Labor candidate and Hills Shire councillor Ryan Tracey has called for urgent funding to be allocated to the construction of infrastructure to support one of The Hills’ busiest intersections.

Baulkham Hills Labor Candidate Ryan Tracey on Windsor Rd in Baulkham Hills, NSW. Sunday 25th of November 2018. Mr Tracey is calling for an underpass at Seven Hills Rd to alleviate traffic issues.(AAP Image/Jordan Shields)

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Baulkham Hills state Labor candidate and Hills Shire councillor Ryan Tracey has called for urgent funding to be allocated to the construction of infrastructure to support one of The Hills’ busiest intersections.

Cr Tracey said it was important funding was allocated for an underpass or grade separation at the intersection of Windsor and Old Northern roads, Baulkham Hills, to “address regional traffic issues that has plagued the town centre for decades”.

“We need to address this matter before further development occurs in the Baulkham Hills town centre,” Cr Tracey told the Times.

Artist impression of the Bull 'n' Bush redevelopment on the intersection of Old Northern Rd and Windsor Rd.

“We are seeing massive increases in population, not only across the shire, but in Baulkham Hills specifically and we need infrastructure to match the growing demand on our roads.”

The Hills councillor, who is running as the state Labor candidate for Baulkham Hills against current Liberal MP David Elliott, said he would advocate strongly to see the delivery of an underpass at the busy intersection — which could be be transformed by several high-density development by Dyldam and the redevelopment of the Bull ‘n’ Bush hotel site.

The intersection of Old Norther Road, Windsor Road and Seven Hills Roads. (AAP Image/David Swift)

“This piece of infrastructure is not in a high priority for the government and RMS,” he said.

“There are a whole group of residents that won’t have access to the Metro at Baulkham Hills and we need other infrastructure in place to cater for these people.

“As a Baulkham Hills resident I witness first hand congestion at this infrastructure — I am responding to the community’s frustration this is what the community wants.”

Cr Tracey said there was also a major lack of commuter parking to cater for a growing Baulkham Hills population.

Business owners (left) Joe Laviano (Colonial Print and Copy), Loren Holmes (Speech Buzz), Anton Bognar (customer), Danielle Coronno (ITP Tax Professionals) and Mohammad Rezaee are angry after being told a "peak hour" bus lane outside their shops on Old Northern Rd will be changed to a 24 hour bus lane, and they will lose parking for their customers. Picture: AAP Image/David Swift

“If we don’t install infrastructure like the underpass, bus terminals and parking, we will not be able to cope with the level of development and congestion in the not-so-distant future,” he said.

“This has been on the cards for at least a decade, but I don’t think that Transport for NSW or RMS are taking it seriously.

“It has been overlooked, but it can’t be overlooked any longer.”

The Hills Shire Council, including mayor Michelle Byrne, has advocated for the RMS to fasttrack the development of an underpass to be installed at the busy intersection for several years.

The NSW Government came under fire last month, following a proposal to install a 24-hour clearway for buses at the busy intersection.