How Bella Vista could look in 2037, and the roundabout that’s in the way

WEEK 5: One roundabout has the potential to derail development around Bella Vista metro station, but a stopgap solution may have been found.

How Bella Vista could look in 2037 - looking south along Old Windsor Rd from Memorial Ave. Aerial image courtesy of Cinemair Aerial Photography (cinemairap.com.au)

• Week 1: What Cherrybrook could look like in 2037
• Week 2: How Castle Hill could look in 2037
• Week 3: How Castle Hill Showground could look in 2037
• Week 4: How Norwest Business Park could look in 2037

THE Hills’ most infamous and hated roundabout — the intersection of Norwest Blvd and Lexington Drive — is set to get traffic lights in a stopgap bid to improve traffic flow.

The temporary solution will be in place until a fully signalised intersection is funded and built.

The intersection is one of the most congested in The Hills and the traffic it causes has forced numerous businesses in Norwest Business Park to adopt non-standard business hours to ease the congestion.

Pressure will only grow with 27,200 new jobs planned around Norwest and Bella Vista stations by 2037.

Baulkham Hills state Liberal MP David Elliot said the State Government had allocated funds for the sensor-activated traffic lights at the intersection of Norwest Blvd, Lexington and Elizabeth Macarthur drives.

The $500,000 short-term fix centres placing traffic lights at the westbound and northbound approaches but leaving the roundabout in place for now.

“The traffic lights on the approach to the roundabout would be triggered by vehicles and help to ease eastbound congestion along Norwest Blvd during the morning peak,” Mr Elliott said.

“The proposal is in response to an increase in traffic on Norwest Blvd and is suggested as a short-term solution before a planned intersection upgrade in the future.”

Mr Elliott said the plan would be a case of “short- term pain for long-term gain”.

The community has been urged to provide feedback on the plans.

The deadline for feedback is Wednesday, April 5.

Sydney Hills Business Chamber chairman Anthony Moss said members welcomed anything that would improve the situation, but it may not be sufficient.

The state government expects another 27,200 new jobs will be created around the Bella Vista and Norwest metro stations by 2037.

Four thousand new homes could also be built in the vicinity of Bella Vista station.

The results of the past two performance sentiment indexes of 180 businesses in the Hills highlighted infrastructure (travelling and parking) as two of the three major challenges in the Hills despite a “very positive attitude” to doing business in the area, Mr Moss said.

“Traffic congestion in the Hills is an inhibitor to business growth,” he said.

Mr Moss said peak congestion times at the business park were 7.30am to 10am and 3pm to 6.30pm.

“People in the park are screaming about it,” he said.

“It’s a major challenge to businesses in The Hills.

“Smart businesses are organising their business hours around it.

“Lexington Drive is a bigger challenge than Norwest Blvd. It’s a parking lot.

“There needs to be a clearway and it needs to be four lanes.”

Traffic at the roundabout intersection of Lexington Drive and Norwest Blvd, Bella Vista. Picture: Cinemair Aerial Photography (

cinemairap.com.au)

A Roads and Maritime Services spokesman said: “RMS is progressing plans to install traffic lights on approach to the roundabout on Norwest Blvd.

“This will be a short-term measure to improve the operation of the roundabout during peak times.

“The Hills Shire Council has put aside some funding for the major upgrade, which involves removing the roundabout and installing traffic lights.

“There is no time frame for this work to be carried out and the community will continue to be updated as the project progresses.”

Aerial view of the proposed Circa Commercial Precinct around Norwest Private Hospital. Picture: Mulpha Norwest

Work on the proposed upgrade would be undertaken from 8pm to 5am, excluding Saturdays, over 40 nights, weather permitting.

RMS has proposed the work could be carried out five nights a week for eight weeks or two nights a week for 20 weeks.

For feedback, write to DownerMouchel, Norwest Boulevard Intersection Upgrade, PO Box 6464 North Ryde, 2113 or [e-mail]

Artist impression of the Bella Vista Retail Plaza around the future station.