Work on a $100 million upgrade to what has been dubbed Sydney’s worst roundabout near Olympic Park is expected to start in three years and be completed by 2026.
With the federal election campaign in its third week, the federal Coalition and state government have committed $50 million each to upgrade the infamous roundabout at the intersection of Australia Avenue, Homebush Bay Drive and Underwood Road, next to DFO Homebush.
The roundabout next to DFO Homebush is regarded as the worst in Sydney. Credit: Kate Geraghty
The upgrade will include a widening of Australia Avenue and Underwood Road to improve traffic flows, as well as left slip lanes and a U-turn lane on the northbound approach to Homebush Bay Drive.
After considering 12 options, transport officials have chosen what is known as a “diverging diamond interchange” for the upgrade. Queensland already has one such interchange in place, while the sunshine state is developing another two.
Federal Urban Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher said it was a “very challenging intersection” which had about 4000 vehicles an hour pass through it before the pandemic.
“When there is an event at Olympic Park … it can back up very quickly. The DFO there generates a lot of traffic and so this is a very congested roundabout,” he said on Tuesday.
Asked why the upgrade plan had taken so long, Metropolitan Roads Minister Natalie Ward said it was a complex area and the challenge was working around pillars that supported Homebush Bay Drive without disrupting traffic during construction.
“Otherwise, it would take longer and cost more to remove those [pillars] with significant disruption to the community,” she said.
Fletcher said removing the pillars would have added “very significantly to the cost” of the project.
The state government said construction of the new interchange was due to start in 2025 – subject to planning approval – and take about 18 months to complete.
Federal Urban Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher and NSW Metropolitan Roads Minister Natalie Ward near the roundabout on Tuesday.Credit: Kate Geraghty
The intersection is in the marginal federal seat of Reid, which covers wealthy inner-west areas such as Rodd Point and Canada Bay, working-class suburbs like Auburn and Lidcombe, as well as strong religious and ethnic communities around Strathfield, Homebush and Burwood.
Incumbent Liberal MP Fiona Martin is vying with Labor candidate Sally Sitou for Reid, which is regarded as a must-win for both major parties.
Labor roads spokesman John Graham welcomed the upgrade, which he said the opposition had been calling to be funded. “We can’t tackle Sydney’s congestion without fixing these local roads,” he said.
Business Western Sydney Executive Director David Borger said Olympic Peninsula residents and businesses, as well as DFO customers, would be relieved that government was finally doing something to improve the roundabout.
“We still have another three years to wait before construction begins on this vital, congestion-busting project. It would be a boon to this growth region of Sydney and the thousands of local residents if it can be fast-tracked,” he said.
The public has until May 29 to make a submission on the proposed intersection design.
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