Wakehurst Parkway: ‘No’ to any improvements, transport officials confirm

It has a reputation as one of the most dangerous road accident black spots on the northern beaches, but state transport bureaucrats say there are no plans to fix it.

Two cars were involved in a crash on Wakehurst Parkway, North Narrabeen, on Friday night. Four people were taken to hospital and the road closed for about two hours after the two-car collision. Picture: NSW Fire and Rescue (Narrabeen)

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Bureaucrats have given a firm “no” to a push to improve a notorious northern beaches road despite a recent spate of horrific collisions.

Transport for NSW has confirmed it has “no current plans” to widen Wakehurst Parkway from two to four lanes.

The kybosh on upgrading one of the areas’s busiest road comes as leading motorists’ advocacy group, the NRMA, described the road as a “significant safety concern” that “needs to be upgraded”.

One of the cars involved in a crash on Wakehurst Parkway, North Narrabeen, on Friday night - another collision that has sparked the push to have the road widened. Picture: NSW Fire and Rescue (Narrabeen)

There has also been a community push, led by Mackellar federal Liberal MP, Jason Falinski, to urge the NSW Government to widen and floodproof the Parkway.

On Friday night a man was critically injured, and three others also taken to hospital with multiple injuries, after a head on crash on the Parkway at North Narrabeen.

Seven ambulance crews and two NSW Ambulance emergency helicopters with special medical teams on-board where sent to the crash scene near the intersection with Mirrool Rd.

This three-car crash on Wakehurst Parkway at North Narrabeen on October 2, near Elanora Rd, forced the road to be closed in both directions after four people were taken to hospital. Picture: NSW Fire and Rescue (Narrabeen)

A man, 55, who suffered significant leg injuries, had to be cut from the wreckage of his car by NSW Fire and Rescue offices from Narrabeen before he was taken to Royal North SHore Hospital.

The collision forced authorities to close the road for more than two hours.

On October 2, the road was again closed in both directions after four people were hurt in a three-car crash, near the intersection with Elanora Rd at North Narrabeen.

In December last year three people were seriously hurt after a head-on crash after one of the vehicles crossed double yellow lines on a sweeping bend at Oxford Falls.

Another head-on crash on Wakehurst Parkway at Oxford Falls in December last year. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

When asked by the Manly Daily if the Parkway was slated for improvement, Transport for NSW said “no”.

“There are no current plans to widen Wakehurst Parkway from two to four lanes between Seaforth and North Narrabeen,” a spokesman said.

“Transport for NSW will continue to monitor the road and will update the community on any plans.”

In February this year Mr Falinski launched a petition calling on the State Government to start a business case into the widening and flood proofing of Wakehurst Parkway.

The driver of this van, a man in his 20s, was injured in an accident on Wakehurst Parkway, North Narrabeen, on March 6. Picture: Supplied

Mr Falinski argued that, at present, the two-lane road was grossly inadequate to cope with the volume of traffic it receives and with even the lightest of rainfalls.

In March the push for the upgrade was ramped up after federal parliament was told that the Commonwealth had billions of dollars to spend on road infrastructure projects.

Multi-vehicle accident on Wakehurst Parkway, Narrabeen, on February 8 that left three people, including a small child, in hospital. Picture: Rural Fire Service (Ingleside)

Federal Urban Infrastructure Minister Alan Tudge urged state governments and local councils to take advantage of a $4 billion Urban Congestion Fund to improve roads.

Once a feasibility study, or business case is completed, the NSW Government can seek more Commonwealth money to pay for the upgrade.

Today, Mr Falinski told the Manly Daily that at a time when the State Government has asked the Federal Government to fund the proposed Beaches Link tunnel “and the Federal Government has been pleading with the State Government to bring forward new road projects like Wakehurst Parkway, it is an understatement to say that this is response is disappointing.”

Wakehurst Parkway closed by floodwater on February 9. Picture: Damian Shaw

NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury said Wakehurst Parkway received about 160 votes in the organisation’s most recent Rate Your Road survey, mostly for being in poor condition.

“Wakehurst Parkway is a significant safety concern and the NRMA supports calls for its upgrade,” Mr Khoury said.

“It’s recent poor crash history, the fact that it is flood-prone and ongoing concerns around head-on collisions all justify calls for it to be upgraded to a safe standard.

“Safety barriers should be installed as a matter of priority and the NRMA supports calls for it to be widened.

“It is an important local road and needs to be upgraded.”