M4-Hill Rd off-ramp canned for Sydney Olympic Park, Wentworth Point, Carter Street precinct
Commuters will be forced to use ‘NSW’s worst roundabout’ for sometime yet after the state government axed a planned $140 million motorway exit in western Sydney.
Parramatta
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The state government has axed plans to build an off-ramp from the M4 to Hill Rd, leaving westbound drivers to put up with “NSW’s worst roundabout” if they want to reach Sydney Olympic Park, Wentworth Point and Carter Street, business leaders say.
The road was seen as a significant investment for residents commuting from the city to home or those driving to Sydney Olympic Park for major events.
The $140 million link was promised in 2014 when the Sydney Olympic Park Business Association (SOPBA) suggested the road as part of its feedback into the now completed WestConnex project.
It was also promised as part of the rapidly-growing Carter Street precinct which will be home to more than 5500 dwellings, a school and shops.
In November 2015, Roads Minster Duncan Gay said the off-ramp would directly connect the community to the M4 and provide an “alternative route, taking pressure off the notoriously congested Australia Avenue and Homebush Bay Drive interchange”.
“The ramp will further complement travel time savings provided by the M4 widening and is
being fast tracked to open at the same time as stage one of WestConnex in 2019.”
But a Transport for NSW letter issued to residents in December stated the westbound off-ramp was cancelled after studies determined it could not be delivered safely.
The statement frustrated SOPBA chief executive officer, Allison Taylor, who said more pressure was going to be placed on the Australia Ave-Underwood Rd roundabout and Homebush Bay Drive as the population in the precinct explodes.
“The westbound off-ramp was a fantastic solution because it meant people could go past Homebush Bay Drive and come out further west to access developing communities,’’ she said.
“Going in and out is problematic.’’
Ms Taylor said the government should have informed the community sooner about reversing its decision.
“Where the frustration comes from is it’s taken five years since they made this announcement to now when they said they’re not going ahead,’’ she said.
Western Sydney Business Chamber executive director David Borger said: “It puts more pressure on the worst roundabout in NSW (Australia Ave), which will get even worse and it has an impact on people from the city driving to events.
Wentworth Point community advocate Clement Lun criticised the loss of infrastructure that the off-ramp axing would mean.
“I think again it’s another broken promise because it was actually part of the Carter Street Precinct plans so it was essential to get the cars moving out of the area,” he said. “It is gridlock, pre-COVID era.
“It’s a necessary piece of infrastructure for the growing nature of this area, not just for Carter Street but for Olympic Park, Wentworth Point and beyond — we all use Hill Rd.’’
Transport for NSW has listed a number of other measures it plans to roll out to alleviate traffic.
They include:
• Widening Hill Rd between the M4 and Old Hill Link Rd: dual right turns into the Carter St precinct and John Ian Wing Pde
• Upgrading the intersection of Parramatta Rd and Hill Rd: eastbound left turn slip lane on Parramatta Rd; additional southbound right turn lane from Hill Rd to improve traffic flow exiting Sydney Olympic Park
• Widening and signalising the M4 eastbound off-ramp: to reduce Motorway queuing and better manage traffic flow on Hill Rd
Scrapping the roundabout signals another blow for the peninsula community following the government indicating it would backflip on a promise to deliver stage two of the light rail.
It is spruiking its investment in the Sydney Metro but Ms Taylor has slammed it for taking so long.
“The infrastructure is not being addressed (until) 10 years down the track so what’s the growing population going to do in the mean time?’’ she said.
Mr Borger said light rail was still the best transport for the peninsula suburbs.
“We continue to believe that the light rail is the best way of getting this high-density community to the new areas and getting traffic out of the area. It’s a real solid, frequent alternative to driving,’’ he said.
A Transport for NSW spokeswoman said the off-ramp would have had significant safety, community and traffic impacts on the broader network but the Hill Rd upgrade would improve links to the Carter Street Precinct, Wentworth Point and Newington.
She said the federal and state governments were investing $100 million to upgrade Homebush Bay Drive and Australia Ave, which will ease congestion and improve journey times for motorists travelling to and from Sydney Olympic Park and the peninsula.
She said the Sydney Metro West stations at Sydney Olympic Park and North Strathfield would “be coming online as the Carter Street Urban Precinct development is realised”.
Residents have until February 1 to make a submission into the Hill Rd consultation:
HillRoad@transport.nsw.gov.au.
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