Hills Mayor Michelle Byrne calls for State Government to take action on Norwest Blvd
NORWEST Business Park will never reach its full potential unless traffic issues on Norwest Blvd are resolved, Hills Shire Mayor Michelle Byrne has declared.
Hills Shire
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NORWEST Business Park will never reach its full potential unless traffic issues on Norwest Blvd are resolved, Hills Shire Mayor Michelle Byrne has declared.
Cr Byrne is calling for the State Government to take action to resolve congestion issues on Norwest Blvd, while an RMS spokeswoman revealed that an evaluation of recent changes will be completed by the end of the year.
Cr Byrne said congestion on Norwest Blvd was a major issue raised by resident and businesses.
“The business park is currently two thirds full and the biggest limitation is traffic congestion,” Cr Byrne said.
“We will never fill the business park unless we deal with the traffic issues surrounding Norwest Blvd, especially at the Lexington Ave intersection.
“Businesses are now not coming to the Hills and looking at other locations to operate from because of traffic on Norwest Blvd, while existing businesses are fighting congestion by changing their hours of operation to ensure that their staff can get to work.”
Cr Byrne said businesses are trying to adapt to cope with congestion on Norwest Blvd by modifying opening hours or providing public transport options.
“From a business point of view and a local development point of view, we want our business park full,” she said.
“This isn’t just an issue for businesses and customers, but residents that require Norwest Blvd as a way to reach their home.”
Cr Byrne said roundabouts are no longer coping with traffic congestion on Norwest Blvd.
In August, the RMS took remedial steps to install temporary traffic lights to be operational during peak hour.
An RMS spokeswoman could not provide traffic data requested by the Times, but said an evaluation of recent changes at the intersection of Norwest Boulevard, Lexington Drive and Elizabeth Macarthur Drive is expected to be completed before the end of the year.
“On site monitoring was carried out two weeks after the changes were implemented (at the intersection) and traffic signal operation continues to be reviewed,” the spokeswoman said.
“Initial information shows the changes are working as predicted.”
In 2016 a report to The Hills Shire Council revealed that work to install traffic lights across Norwest Blvd would cost an estimated $57 million.
Council contributed $5.3 million for future improvements for the Lexington Ave/Norwest Blvd intersection and $500,000 for interim work at Lexington Ave.