Major road closed one way for months for Northern Beaches Hospital works

FURIOUS Frenchs Forest residents have criticised planned works which will make a major route one-way for 10 months.

Minister for Health Brad Hazzard visits at the Northern Beaches Hospital site. Picture: Damian Shaw.

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FURIOUS Frenchs Forest residents have criticised planned works which will make a major route one-way for 10 months.

The development aims to widen Naree and Frenchs Forest roads from one to two lanes in each direction to create an entrance to Northern Beaches Hospital.

But residents living on the nearby streets — who have put up with extensive inconvenience during the hospital’s construction — say it will result in traffic gridlock, safety concerns and longer commutes.

Previous roadworks on Warringah Rd as the Northern Beaches Hospital was being built.

From Sunday both roads will be westbound only.

Some residents north of Frenchs Forest Rd West say they will be forced to enter and exit their homes via Adams St off Forest Way instead of driving straight out of Naree Rd.

Alternatively they would have to do a loop around the entire Frenchs Forest Rd then sit in traffic on Warringah Rd.

“It is a disgrace,” said Gladys Ave resident Theresa Amos.

“It is just ridiculous, the way they have done the whole road,” she said.

“(The RMS and its contractor) admitted in the community forum last week that they are months behind schedule.

“You have roads being closed without intersections being completed elsewhere. It is total disregard for the community.”

This stretch of road from Frenchs Forest Rd East to Naree Rd will be one-way westbound.

There is no right-hand turning light from Forest Way on to Adams St which locals say is a hazard.

Tisane Ave resident Nicole Burns said the RMS had a “ duty of care to provide a right turn arrow for people to be able to safely turn on to Adams St”.

“It will be gridlocked,” she said. “What would be a 10-minute drive to take my children to Oxford Falls Grammar will now take 45.”

An RMS spokesman said it would continue to work with impacted property owners, residents and business owners.

“This includes escorting residents to their properties when needed, doorknocking all affected residents and businesses as well as ensuring postal deliveries, garbage pick-up and emergency access is maintained at all times,” he said.

Ms Amos, however, said the latest works were the tip of the iceberg with residents living in chaos.

Theresa Amos with her children Nathan and Lily. Picture: Virginia Young.

“We’ve had a very dire internet service for the past three months. We’ve had no Foxtel for two weeks,” she said.

“Both providers have advised that its due to the RMS roadworks and there is little more they can do.

She said they were without water for 18 hours on Saturday September 23 — when temperatures reached 32C — as a result of lines being cut.

Nandi Ave resident, Bruce McDougall said the changes would make the quiet backstreets “manic”.

“With Frenchs Forest Rd being closed to eastbound traffic our only exit is along Bimbadeen Rd and it is a very narrow residential street where people park on both sides, leaving just a car width,” he said.

“We had a similar situation when there were tradies working on the street it was manic.”

Roadworks at Frenchs Forest looking east along Warringah Rd near the Forest Way intersection. Picture: Troy Snook

Wakehurst Liberal MP Brad Hazzard said he was also concerned by the plans.

“I have had about 20 emails from locals and I will be raising the issues that they have raised to see if there are any further changes that can be made,” he said.

However, he said the one-way changes were put in place to ensure the process was done quickly, and as safe as possible while not disrupting residents’ sleep.

DRONE FOOTAGE OF NORTHERN BEACHES HOSPITAL

“They will be closing one side of the street along its entire length rather than doing it in the alternative which would be 100-metre bursts where traffic would be swapping from one side to the other with a stop-go supervisor. “