Macquarie Park gains road and bus infrastructure for Epping to Chatswood rail closure
MACQUARIE Park’s major roads and intersections will be redesigned to improve traffic flow after the State Government announced $60 million in road infrastructure.
Northern District Times
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MACQUARIE Park’s major roads and intersections will be redesigned to improve traffic flow after the State Government announced $60 million in road infrastructure.
Motorists will see more turning lanes at intersections and roundabouts replaced, while bus commuters will gain dedicated lanes and priority measures.
Pedestrians will also be able to move more freely as part of the works will start midyear.
The first of two stages of works will allow more buses to serve the area once the Epping to Chatswood rail line closes late next year.
The line will be closed for seven months so it can be upgraded for trains travelling on the Sydney Metro Northwest.
Transport Minister Andrew Constance said the work would deliver upgrades for the second largest business district in the state, which would only get bigger.
“There is already $2.7 billion in development applications for the precinct, with plenty more in the pipeline,” Mr Constance said.
“We need to keep up with demand and improve the transport system for the tens of thousands of people who live, work and study in the area now as well as those who will commute here in the future.”
The first stage of works will include upgrading intersections at Herring Rd and Epping Rd, Herring Rd and Waterloo Rd, Waterloo Rd and Lane Cove Rd, and Lane Cove Rd and Epping Rd.
This will support the temporary transport plan for the rail line closure.
Among the biggest changes will be the introduction of kerbside bus lanes on Herring Rd. These lanes will run between Ivanhoe Pl and Waterloo Rd.
Herring Rd will be widened through strip (land) acquisition in order to provide the bus lanes.
Waterloo Rd will also be widened to have a bus lane and two general traffic lanes.
This road will be widened into the median, and by strip acquisition.
The second lot of works will begin once the Sydney Metro Northwest opens.
Transport for NSW said travel times along the affected roads would remain consistent while work is under way, except for two stretches and intersections.
Eastbound traffic on Waterloo Rd, between Herring Rd and Khartoum Rd, would have only one lane.
Travel times here would increase by about 1.5 minutes in the morning peak and 3.5 minutes in the afternoon peak, according to Transport for NSW.
Northbound traffic on Herring Rd, approaching Waterloo Rd, would also see increased congestion — an additional minute in the morning peak and two minutes in the afternoon peak.
The government has invited the public to give feedback on the plans. Submissions close on May 12.
Details can be seen via www.rms.nsw.gov.au/bpp.
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