Western Sydney Airport: Calls for $200m upgrade on Elizabeth Drive in Kemps Creek

The timeline for crucial upgrades for a dangerous stretch of road at Kemps Creek – set to be the key link between the Western Sydney Airport and Liverpool – remains uncertain as lobbying efforts intensify.

Badgerys Creek MP Tanya Davis has called for upgrades to Elizabeth Dr from Devonshire to Western Rd in Kemps Creek.

The timeline for crucial upgrades for a dangerous stretch of road at Kemps Creek – set to be the key link between the Western Sydney Airport and Liverpool – remains uncertain as lobbying efforts intensify for a $200m cash injection.

Residents are calling for safety improvements on Elizabeth Dr – between Devonshire Rd and Western Rd – as rising numbers of motorists cause havoc.

Possible improvements include increasing the number of lanes from two to six lanes.

The former Liberal government made an election pledge for safety improvements in January and now, Badgerys Creek Liberal MP Tanya Davis is calling the current Labor Government for an urgent progress update.

“The road can be quite dangerous as more and more trucks are accessing those roads due to the airport and aerotropolis construction work,” she said. “There’s significantly more volume of traffic but there’s still schoolchildren, business owners and residents that need to get out onto Elizabeth Dr and it’s getting more dangerous from those intersections.”

Devonshire Ave intersection on Elizabeth Dr in Kemps Creek

Ms Davis said Elizabeth Rd would require an increase in the number of lanes as businesses, social clubs and schools reside in the “traffic intense” area.

“In previous plans, it was scheduled for traffic lights to go in but we’re now also looking at a temporary fix with a roundabout because of the significant risks to residents when trying to get in and out of Devonshire St in particular,” she said.

A Transport for NSW spokesman confirmed there were plans to upgrade Elizabeth Dr and a roundabout at Devonshire Rd and Elizabeth Dr would be installed and operational this year.

“This will improve the safety and congestion along Elizabeth Dr while we plan for the road’s upgrade,” the spokesman said.

Kemps Creek Auto Repairs owner Alexander Daniel has owned his shop on Salisbury St – off Elizabeth Rd – for the last 11 years and said the traffic had been “shocking” for the last two years.

“This place used to be a ghost town but now at least once a week someone gets T-boned or rear ended on Elizabeth Dr,” he said.

Greater West Outdoor Power Equipment is located on Salisbury Ave, an intersection on Elizabeth Dr.

During a weekday, Mr Daniel takes around an hour to get to work from Silverdale, compared to 25 minutes on a Saturday in light traffic, as the bumper to bumper traffic also impacted his customers.

“We have people who have an appointment at 8am but don’t get to the shop until 9:30 or 10am because of the traffic,” he said.

“I’ve considered changing my shop’s hours but it wouldn’t work to organise time to sort out parts.”

Mr Daniel said traffic lights would only bank up cars and the “only thing they can do is to make it wider with two lanes each side”.

Kemps Creek Auto Repairs owner Alexander Daniel said traffic has been "shocking".

Greater West Outdoor Power Equipment employee Courtney Brett, said Elizabeth Dr was the only access point into her workplace – causing drivers to make dangerous U-turns into Salisbury Ave.

“In peak hour it’s a nightmare from 6am to 9:30am then 2pm to 6pm as you either have trucks or people going to school,” she said.

“Our customers, especially the elderly will come to the store during off peak hours as it’s impossible for them to drive in.”

Ms Davis has called on Leppington MP Nathan Hagarty to join her in the fight to secure funding as the upgrade is located where the two electorates meet.

Mr Hagarty said he had long advocated for an upgrade to the intersection and had spoken with the Transport for NSW about the installation of a roundabout at the intersection.

“It’s disappointing to see the Liberals now calling for an upgrade after 12 years of inaction while they were in government,” he said.

“I will continue to work with the Minister and Transport for NSW to deliver safety upgrades for Elizabeth Dr and the rest of Leppington in order to clean the mess left by the previous government.”