Northern Beaches Hospital roadworks: Warringah Rd underpass set to open

A key construction milestone in the road upgrade around Northern Beaches Hospital — the Warringah Rd underpass that bypasses three major intersections — to open on March 28.

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The new and long-awaited Warringah Rd underpass will be opened on Saturday, March 28, NSW transport officials have confirmed.

The 1.3km “slot”, designed to slash crippling traffic congestion around Frenchs Forest, is part of the $500 million upgrade to the road network around Northern Beaches Hospital.

Up to eight-metres deep, the four-lane 70km/h underpass is built below Warringah Rd and allows motorists to save time by avoiding traffic lights at the intersections with Wakehurst Pkwy, Hilmer St and Forest Way.

An overview of the Warringah Rd underpass at Frenchs Forest – to open in two stages on March 28. Picture: Transport for NSW

Transport for NSW said it was designed to increase capacity and improve traffic flow for the tens of thousands of motorists who use the popular route each day.

The eastbound lanes of the underpass will be the first section to open, at about midnight on March 28. The Westbound lanes will open about two hours later — at 2am on Sunday, March 29.

On the following Saaturday — April 4 — the on ramp to the underpass from Wakehurst Pkwy will open. Then, on April 18, the three right turn lanes from Warringah Rd on to Forest Way will be reopened.

The opening of the 1.3km Warringah Rd underpass at Frenchs Forest on March 28 means the return of three turning lanes from Warringah Rd, westbound, to Forest Way. Picture: Transport for NSW

The opening of the underpass also means that the reintroduction of the right turn from Wakehurst Pkwy’s northbound traffic onto the eastbound lanes on Warringah Rd.

And an additional right turn lane for vehicles heading south on Wakehurst Pkwy who want to head west on Warringah Rd.

An aerial view of construction work on the Warringah Rd underpass, part of the upgrading of roads around Northern Beaches Hospital. Picture: Transport for NSW

Transport authorities are reminding motorists travelling eastbound to Northern Beaches Hospital to use the surface road and turn left at Forest Way and follow the signs to the hospital.

The opening of the underpass does not mean all work on the upgrade project is finished.

An artist's impression of the completed Warringah Rd underpass, at the intersection with Forest Way. Picture: Transport for NSW

There will still be some night work and weekend road closures to complete work such as installing drains; replacing existing driveways, finishing the Warringah Rd surface lanes to the west of Forest Way and; landscaping.

An artist's impression of the completed Warringah Rd underpass. Picture: Transport for NSW

“We are on track to complete the project in mid-2020,” a spokesman said.

The NSW Government was originally hoping to have it completed by early 2019, but officials said they had to contend with complex utility relocations and adjustments, discovering unknown services and utilities during work as well as changes to the amount of night work it was allowed.