Burns Bay Rd, Penrose St intersection upgrade: Lane Cove Council plan improvements

New plans are underway to address traffic hell at a notorious north shore intersection, described by locals as having the region’s “worst peak hour congestion”.

New plans have been revealed to fix the north shore’s ‘worst intersection’

New plans are underway to address traffic hell at a notorious north shore intersection described by locals as having the region’s “worst peak hour congestion”.

Traffic gridlock at the corner of Burns Bay Rd and Penrose St, Lane Cove has spurred Lane Cove Council to pledge $2.5m in long-term funding plans to bankroll road widening works to reduce heavy congestion.

The intersection – which funnels cars on two main road corridors – has been subject to years of frustration from motorists who are often left idling in traffic queues that can back up 2km in peak periods.

The funding would enable a new turning lane to be created for westbound vehicles on Penrose St turning left on to Burns Bay Rd.

There are two westbound lanes on Penrose St, however a right turning lane means most cars are shifted on to the left lane – causing the extensive traffic jams.

A photo of traffic at the intersection.

The news has been welcomed by nearby business owners including F45 gym manager Olivia Wardell who said the road had caused frustration for many of her clients.

“We have people sitting looking at the studio for 20 odd minutes stuck in their cars because it takes so long for the traffic to clear,” she said. “It creates stress and we often have people having to cancel classes and calling up to say they’re stuck in the car and can’t make it.

A photo of the intersection.

“We’ve seen more people walk or push their classes to after peak hour just to avoid having to use the intersection.”

A council spokeswoman confirmed the upgrade would mean acquiring a strip of land currently used by a service station. However, it is not currently clear how much land would have to be acquired.

“The initial idea is to widen Penrose St to create two left turning lanes onto Burns Bay Rd. There would be one lane for a straight/right turn onto Burns Bay Rd,” she said.

The council spokeswoman said the funds would come from section 7.11 contributions – a fee that is charged to developers when the council approves local development projects.

The campaign comes after past efforts by the council in lobbying the NSW Government for an upgrade have proved futile.

The stalemate has been attributed to Burns Bay Rd’s classification as a state-road which comes under control of Transport for NSW, while Penrose St is a regional road under the control of the council.

A council spokeswoman confirmed the project would require support from TfNSW.