A traditional design has been chosen for a $200 million upgrade to what has been dubbed Sydney’s worst roundabout after a preferred option for a type of signalised intersection was dumped.
Construction on what is commonly referred to as the DFO roundabout, near Olympic Park, is expected to start in 2027 and take about two years to complete at a cost twice the original budget of $100 million three years ago.
A render of the new design for the $200 million upgrade to the notorious DFO roundabout at Homebush.Credit: Transport for NSW
The new design for the Homebush Bay Drive and Australia Avenue intersection is aimed at replacing the existing roundabout with a signalised intersection and extra lanes to ease congestion. About 5000 vehicles an hour pass through the roundabout during morning and evening peaks.
The preferred option had previously been a so-called diverging diamond interchange, which would have allowed motorists to navigate through the intersection via a crossover arrangement.
However, that option has been ditched in favour of what has been described as a more traditional design after the former failed to gain public support. Apart from better safety, an assessment shows the favoured design requires a “significantly reduced footprint and less property acquisitions”.
The assessment showed only a quarter of respondents supported the idea of a diverging diamond interchange due to concerns about the complexity, unfamiliarity and safety of that design.
The project is expected to be completed in 2029.Credit: Transport for NSW
Federal Transport and Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said authorities had listened to the community and opted for the more traditional and familiar design for the much-needed upgrade.
“The community has waited for years for a solution to the traffic issues that have plagued this intersection since it first opened more than a quarter of a century ago,” she said.
In March, the federal government committed an extra $50 million to the project, which was matched by the state three months later, increasing the total funding to $200 million.
Parramatta Labor MP Donna Davis said Homebush’s population had almost doubled in the past decade, placing increased pressure on Sydney’s worst roundabout. “A solution needs to be implemented as soon as possible,” she said.
Under plans of the previous state and federal Coalition governments, the upgrade was meant to be completed by next year at a cost of $100 million.
The latest proposal means the upgraded intersection is due to be completed by 2029. The public has until January 18 to make submissions on the revised plans.
Interim safety works were completed at the roundabout and Homebush Bay Drive on-ramps last December, which included new traffic loop detectors and 12 roundabout operating signs.
A notorious 2.5-kilometre eastbound stretch on the M4 near Parramatta is also to be investigated for a potential fix following an increase in crashes since a widening of a section of the motorway was completed in 2017 as part of the first stage of WestConnex.
Engineering company Arup has been awarded a contract to develop designs for safety improvements for the section of the M4 near the Church Street off-ramp, which is the last exit for eastbound vehicles before they pass through toll gantries for WestConnex.
NSW Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said the work was aimed at resolving a problem that had been getting worse for years. “We’ve already delivered interim safety measures, but what’s needed now is a long-term, evidence-based solution,” she said.
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