Fears existing traffic choke point Sydney Rd could be exacerbated by B-Line bus service’s introduction

RESIDENTS fear a road closure in Seaforth to allow for the B-Line bus service will mean hundreds more cars could be pushed on to Sydney Rd, creating citybound traffic chaos.

Residents are concerned that they will be forced on to Sydney Rd as a result of B-Line upgrades instead of going straight onto Manly Rd from Heaton Ave in Clontarf. Picture: Annika Enderborg.

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RESIDENTS  fear a road closure in Seaforth to allow for the B-Line bus service means hundreds more cars could be pushed on to Sydney Rd, creating citybound traffic chaos.

A plan to make way for the B-Line would see Heaton Ave, Seaforth, shut where it reaches Manly Rd effectively cutting off a local rat run which drivers used to avoid busier routes.

Now the Clontarf Community Forum has called on Transport NSW to go back to the drawing board, before it “forces more local traffic onto existing choke points”.

It would mean people would have to drive north to Sydney Rd to take them onto Manly Rd, which would lead south to meet the M1.

Forum chairman Phil Young said it would be a disaster for Seaforth, Clontarf and Balgowlah Heights residents. He said it would “exacerbate­ the congestion problem, not help”.

“It will force more local traffic into the choke points around the top of Sydney Rd and Manly Rd in the drive down to the Spit bridge,” he said.

“The B-Line is focused on one hour a day in one direction … they are talking about inconveniencing people that use these roads, for 24 hours a day.”

Locals fear their rat run will be taken away to make way for the B-Line. Current plans have it closing Heaton Ave at Manly Rd, Seaforth.

The forum called on Transport NSW to look at alternative­ options which did not close off Heaton Ave at Manly Rd.

But a spokesman for Transport NSW said their studies showed it would improve travel times, and safety for all commuters.

“The proposed closure would prevent traffic from Heaton Ave impacting on the flow of the kerbside bus lane on Manly Rd,” he said.

“The proposal also includes plans to upgrade the Manly Rd/Burnt Bridge Creek Deviation and Sydney Rd intersection which would help to accommodate traffic diverted.

“(It) would allow an indented bus bay to be built for local services which will improve journey times by separating buses that have stopped to drop off and pick up passengers from other services.”

Traffic congestion on the Spit Bridge during the morning peak. Picture: Braden Fastier

Transport NSW will host a series­ of consultation events and all feedback will be considered before changes are implemented.

NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury urged any concerned residents to voice their problems with the plans during community consultation.

“When you are retrofitting public transport into an already congested city, there are always going to be challenges, there need to be trade-offs to ensure maximum benefit for all road users,” he said.

The Northern Beaches Council has also raised concerns.

Its deputy general manager Ben Taylor said the council had asked Transport NSW look at other options including keeping Heaton Ave open to traffic and relocating the indented bus bay on Manly Rd.

Another resident, Carlo Bongarzoni, argued it could add to an already­ stretched travel time for peak hour drivers. Mr Bongarzoni said there were alternatives, including­ moving a the bus indentation to the north or south of Heaton Ave.

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