Residents, business owners rally for solution to Military Rd as government reviews improvements

It is one of Sydney’s most hated roads with heavy congestion leaving thousands of motorists jammed in traffic – now community leaders are rallying behind calls for a permanent solution.

Mosman business leaders including Eimear Hughes, Tamara Keniry and Christine Boulos have backed calls for improvements to the congested thoroughfare.

It is one of Sydney’s most hated roadways with heavy congestion leaving thousands of motorists jammed in traffic each day, and now Mosman community leaders are rallying behind calls for a permanent solution for the Military Rd corridor.

Business owners, politicians and residents have united in a campaign for the NSW Government to implement overdue road improvements to the congested thoroughfare which carries an average of more than 52,000 cars each day.

The move has been prompted by the cancellation of the proposed multibillion-dollar Beaches Link tunnel that was aimed at taking thousands of vehicles off Military Rd.

L to R: Christine Boulos of Terry White Chemmart, President of Mosman Chamber of Commerce Tamara Keniry and Eimear Hughes of NumberWorks'nWords at Spit Junction in Mosman. Picture: John Appleyard

The tunnel, cancelled as part of NSW Government cost-saving measures, would have provided an alternative transport route between the northern beaches and the Warringah Freeway.

The cancellation of the project has been met with concerns by many residents and community groups in Mosman who have to battle with heavy traffic each day.

Military Rd carries more than 50,000 cars each day.

The Military Rd thoroughfare has been consistently named by motorists as one of Sydney’s most congested roads and was last year ranked in an NRMA survey as the city’s second worst roadway behind Parramatta Rd.

A State Government – in response to the Beaches Link cancellation – has appointed Transport for NSW to carry out a review of Military Rd to identify any “road network improvements” that could be made.

However, the review has faced criticism after it was revealed public submissions will not be invited as part of the initial assessment process.

A diagram of the Beaches Link project, which was cancelled by the NSW Government

The tunnel would have bypassed areas including The Spit and Mosman.

Mosman Council has confirmed it has also not been provided with any details of the review or its terms of reference – despite years of lobbying for transport improvements.

A Mosman Council spokeswoman said the council was “very disappointed with the cancellation of the Beaches Link Tunnel project”.

“Mosman Council is still awaiting the new government’s plans to address the transport issues but to date has not been provided with any details or terms of any review,” she said.

Military Rd is the main traffic route between the northern beaches and the north shore.

“Mosman would welcome any measure to reduce traffic including improvements to public transport.

A North Sydney Council spokeswoman said the council has also not been consulted on the government’s review. The spokeswoman said the council would “welcome the opportunity to provide feedback on any proposal that affects our local community.”

In recent years, there have been a range of ideas put forward by residents and local councils to improve conditions on Military Rd including boosting public transport options.

The NSW Government is reviewing the roadway.

Glen Curyer, co-chair of the Neutral Precinct community group, said there was an “ongoing level of frustration” among residents and business owners about the delays in finding a solution.

“We’ve heard about the issues for a decade but there doesn’t seem to be any progress or political will to really identify and make the improvements that are needed,” he said.

Mr Curyer said motorists using Military Rd are already facing extra travel delays due to current construction works on the Warringah Freeway Upgrade which has resulted in lane closures and the removal of hundreds of carparking spaces on local roads.

He said the impacts of the upgrade coupled with the Western Harbour Tunnel project could see thousands of extra cars pushed onto Military Rd in coming years.

Construction works on the Warringah Freeway have been identified as a growing strain on Military Rd.

“The conditions on Military Rd are worse than they’ve ever been and it will become more congested after the freeway works are completed,” he said.

“The Warringah Freeway upgrade was designed to make the Beaches Link work but the reality is there’ll be more cars on Military Rd and the cost to Neutral Bay will be enormous.

“Our real concern is we’re going to have another Rozelle Interchange disaster.”

North Sydney State Liberal MP Felicity Wilson said she was frustrated by the cancellation of the Beaches Link – a decision she said was made “without a second thought about managing one of the country’s most congested roads”.

MP Felicity Wilson wants community feedback into the review.

Ms Wilson has called for the current Transport for NSW review to accept feedback from residents and community members.

“While we won’t know what the recommendations are from this review until the second half of this year, what is clear is that local businesses and residents will not be allowed to take part in the review and provide feedback,” she said.

“I am hopeful that the government will rethink their decision to ignore local views.”

Tamara Keniry, president of the Mosman Chamber of Commerce, said the current traffic conditions on Military Rd have impacted many businesses and believes Transport for NSW should look at making overdue improvements to public transport along Military Rd.

“The issue of parking and traffic is constant and when the people can’t find a carpark it makes it very difficult for businesses to thrive,” she said.

“There is also the issue of public transport with buses constantly being cancelled and when buses do come they’re often full.

“Everyone’s talking about less cars on Military Rd, but the first step is being able to have a public transport system that people can rely on.”

Public transport improvements have been identified as a possible solution to the current traffic congestion.

Concerns over traffic congestion on Military Rd have meanwhile been heightened by current housing density reforms proposed by the NSW Government that would allow new units to be built in residential areas around town centres and transport links.

Mapping by Mosman Council shows the reforms could drive a development surge around the Mosman and Spit Junction town centres – placing further pressure on Military Rd.

A council spokeswoman said traffic on Military Rd could “worsen given the push by NSW Government to implement poorly devised housing density in areas with already congested local and arterial roads.”

A Transport for NSW spokeswoman said the current Military Rd review is aiming to “identify opportunities to improve network resilience, public transport, safety, and connectivity for road users”.

MP Zali Steggall pictured at Mosman.

“Transport acknowledges both the challenges and constraints associated with implementing large scale options such as road widening along Military Rd,” the spokeswoman said.

“Transport will engage with key stakeholders, such as councils, as part of the review process and we will keep the community informed as the internal network review progresses. “

It is understood Transport for NSW has no current plans to implement 24/7 clearways on Military Rd as a potential solution to the traffic conditions.

Warringah Federal Independent MP Zali Steggall has backed calls for improvements, saying the “community has been largely left in the dark about an alternative solution” to the Beaches Link.

“We need some clear answers on the way forward, particularly clarity over the three network pinch points at the Spit Bridge, Dee Why and Wakehurst Parkway,” she said.