Wakehurst Parkway: Details of $75m upgrade of notorious traffic black spot
Details of a long-awaited $75m safety upgrade of a notorious Sydney traffic black spot — which is also closed 11 times a year by flooding — have been revealed.
Manly
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Plans aimed at slashing serious road crashes and improving traffic flow on one of the northern beaches’ most complained about roads have been revealed.
Sections of the two-lane Wakehurst Parkway, between Frenchs Forest and North Narrabeen, will be widened and dangerous intersections improved in the NSW Government-funded $75 million safety upgrade.
Transport for NSW released the long-awaited 350-page Review of Environment Factors report on Monday for public feedback.
It came as Northern Beaches Council confirmed it will be using another $31m of NSW Government money to reduce flooding on the busy state-owned road link, which has to close after heavy rain an average of 11 times a year.
On its “Wakehurst Parkway Improvements” web page, Transport for NSW (TfNSW) stated that the plans focused on “improving safety and capacity for this key road link in Sydney’s Northern Beaches”.
A Biodiversity Development Assessment Report, examining the effects of the proposed work on sensitive populations of animals and plants along the route, was also released.
Major highlights of the upgrade include adding another southbound lane from Dreadnought Rd at Oxford Falls to Trefoil Creek, near the intersection with Frenchs Forest Rd East, close to Northern Beaches Hospital.
There will also be an additional lane in both directions between Dreadnought Rd and Oxford Falls Rd at Oxford Falls.
The Parkway’s busy intersections with Dreadnought Rd and Oxford Falls Rd will be upgraded with new turning bays and lanes. Intersections with Elanora Rd and Mirool St at North Narrabeen will also be improved.
“ (TfNSW) is working with Northern Beaches Council to ensure that the traffic and safety improvements also support the proposed flood improvements,” it confirmed in the documents.
“If approved, construction is planned to start in 2024 and will take about two years to complete, weather permitting.”
In parliament earlier this year, Transport Minister Jo Haylen said the improvements “will help reduce crashes, improve access to Northern Beaches Hospital and save commuters time by improving the overall efficiency of the wider road network”.
The independent State MP for Wakehurst, Michael Regan, who has been lobbying the new Labor government to stick to the previous Coalition’s commitment to fund the safety upgrade, welcomed the release of the plans.
Mr Regan said local motorists were a “step closer to safer and more efficient travel” between North Narrabeen and Frenchs Forest.
“Wakehurst Parkway is a vital corridor for motorists getting to and from the northern beaches, and is a vital upgrade for our community in Wakehurst.
“The upgrade will also help engage the use of public and active transport, with proposed improvements … to include additional lanes at key sites and new bus stop connections.”
The council’s parkway flood improvement works will take place from early next year at four locations: Oxford Falls Road (West): near Oxford Falls Grammar School; “The Bends” and: the Sydney Academy of Sport at North Narrabeen.
For more information from TfNSW and to have your say on the safety upgrades — until December 20 — click here.
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