Mona Vale Rd upgrade: $340m set aside in NSW Budget to transform Mona Vale Rd (West)

The NSW Government confirms there will be $340m set aside to upgrade a major northern beaches road link.

The NSW Government has set aside a massive $340 million to transform a major northern beaches black spot road link.

Money will be set aside in the NSW Budget on Tuesday to upgrade a 3.4km stretch of Mona Vale Rd, from Terrey Hills to Ingleside, from two to four lanes.

Metropolitan Roads Minister Natalie Ward confirmed on Monday the work, from McCarrs Creek Rd to Powderworks Rd, will go ahead once detailed design work has been completed.

The Mona Vale Rd (West) upgrade will link with the Mona Vale Rd (East) upgrade already well underway.

Work on the $140 million Mona Vale Rd (East) upgrade stretching from Lane Cove Rd, Ingleside to just past Foley St, Mona Vale, will link with the $340m Mona Vale Rd (west) revamp. Picture: RMS

There had been some community worries that work on the western part of Mona Vale Rd, through the northern beaches, might be put on hold and the money allocated to transport infrastructure projects in other parts of the city.

And a recent decision by the government to scrap its proposed rezoning of parts of Ingleside — which would have led to 980 new homes in the area — had also raised concerns the much-heralded upgrade would not go ahead even though it had been on NSW Transport’s drawing board for more than five years.

“This is the last section of Mona Vale Rd that is still constrained to one lane and we are

excited to announce $340 million towards removing a key bottleneck,” Mrs Ward said on Monday afternoon.

“This stretch of road has become a pinch point for traffic and these works will complement

the Mona Vale Rd upgrade to the east, providing more reliable and safer journeys.”

State Liberal MP for Pittwater Rob Stokes said the project would support local jobs through its design and construction phases.

“This is the most significant infrastructure investment for the people of Pittwater in living

memory and it’s one that we have fought hard to attain,” Mr Stokes said.

A collision on Mona Vale Rd at Ingleside in 2006. The $340m upgrade will include a concrete barrier between the two lanes of traffic travelling each way, to stop head-on crashes. Picture: John Grainger

“This is about saving lives as well as addressing congestion and by doing both we will

secure a better future for our community.”

As well as the extra two lanes each way, the upgrade will improve access to local roads between Tumburra St and Powderworks Rd.

Work will include a 30m-wide wildlife overpass to allow native animals to move between Ku-ring-gai Chase and Garigal national parks.

Metropolitan Roads Minister Natalie Ward conforms that $340m will be set aside in the NSW Budget for Mona Vale Rd (West). Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

The upgrade will also include a concrete safety barrier protecting motorists from oncoming traffic as well as improved street lighting.