NSW Government commit $1.5m to The Esplanade upgrade after deadly crashes

The NSW Government has committed $1.5 million to upgrade of a northwest Sydney black spot — following a spate of crashes that took the lives of several young people.

The NSW Government has pledged to upgrade Thornleigh’s The Esplanade after a number of car crashes along the strip. Picture: Troy Snook

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The NSW Government has committed $1.5 million to upgrade of The Esplanade and Duffy Ave at Thornleigh — following a spate of crashes that took the lives of several young people.

Pennant Hills High School student Dylan Langhorne, aged 14, died while his P-plate driving brother’s car crashed during a wet weather commute in November last year, just months after another Pennant Hills student, Elliott Bennett, aged 17, was killed when his car careered into a parked tow truck.

Dylan Langhorne was killed in November.

Elliott Bennett was killed in April.

The two deaths were just some of the 17 serious incidents that occurred on The Esplanade and Yarrara Rd, Thornleigh, since 2013, according to NSW Transport crash statistics data.

The upgrade of the roads will see $450,000 given to Hornsby Council by the government in the next financial year, while a further $1.05 million will be committed in the 2020/21 financial year.

Westleigh Progress Association spokeswoman Carolyn Cannings said the community has been campaigning for safety upgrades at the intersection since the 1980s.

“The intersection upgrades will put a lot minds at ease and increase safety for drivers,” Ms Cannings told the Advocate.

“We have been campaigning for the realignment of the road for the past thirty years because the road is constantly blocked from through-traffic from Pennant Hills and Hornsby — it makes it very difficult for Westleigh residents to leave the suburb.”

Ms Cannings said she was convince the upgrades will make a real change to commute times.

“People cut off the entire road in peak hour, so these changes will make a world of difference,” she said.

“The reduction in speed is a very good idea, but it will only slow down the honest people.”

Hornsby state Liberal MP Matt Kean said the money will contribute to the realignment and reconfiguration of the signalised intersection and reduce the speed limit from 60km/h to 50.

There will also be a series of improved pedestrian facilities to “reduce conflict points with cars”, as well as right turn lights at the Duffy Ave and Esplanade intersection.

Mr Kean said changes were aimed at improving safety and traffic flow.

The Esplanade, Thornleigh. Taya, Malia, Kerith Massey, Matt Kean MP, Hugo Massey, and Carolyn Cannings from the Westleigh Progress Association.

“The planned works will make the intersection less confusing and improve the safety for all motorists and pedestrian who use this intersection every day,” he said.

“This is a large project which will take time to complete but we are already seeing the first steps to improve safety with the reduction of the speed limit to start January 31st.

“The speed limit changes are going to provide a consistent speed limit and improve road safety to the residents and all road users in this area.”

THORNLEIGH CRASH DATA