Busting congestion: $300 million to create a gateway to the south
NSW Premier Mike Baird and Minister for Roads and Freight Duncan Gay today announced a re-elected Baird Government would invest $300 million to fix major pinch points in Sydney’s south.
The announcement was made at a notorious pinch point on the corner of King Georges Road and the Princes Highway in Blakehurst with local MPs Mark Coure (Oatley), Melanie Gibbons (Menai), Mark Speakman (Cronulla), Lee Evans (Heathcote) and John Flowers (Rockdale). They were joined by Liberal candidates Eleni Petinos (Miranda), Nick Aroney (Kogarah), George Zakhia (Bankstown) and Rashid Bhuiyan (Lakemba).
“Motorists right across Sydney are sick of congestion - we’re determined to ease frustration and save motorists time by fixing our worst roads,” Mr Baird said.
“This will make it easier for people in the southern suburbs to move around, as well as improving traffic flows to and from the Illawarra – creating a Gateway to the South.”
The funding will go towards targeted widening of road corridors including the Princes Highway, King Georges Road, Heathcote Road and Alfords Point Road.
Pinch points will be fixed at several intersections including The Grand Parade and President Avenue, and Princes Highway and Oak Road.
Mr Gay said targeting pinch points would make it easier for motorists to get from A to B, save small businesses money and ensure people spend less time stuck in traffic and more time at home.
“For too long, the people of southern Sydney have been forgotten by successive Labor Governments. Labor not only sold off parts of the F6 corridor, they repeatedly abandoned plans for the F6 extension,” Mr Gay said.
“These targeted investments to address critical pinch points along the Princes Highway, King Georges Road and Heathcote Road corridors will occur in tandem with investigations for the F6 motorway.
“This will support the game-changing southern extension for WestConnex, which is currently under development to make travel from Kogarah, Sutherland, Cronulla and Wollongong to the CBD and employment zones in Western Sydney quicker and more reliable.
“In its first term, the Baird Government has made an historic investment in roads in southern Sydney and the Illawarra, including $769 million to upgrade the Princes Highway.
“Only the Baird Government can transform southern Sydney and the Illawarra to ease congestion and provide a Gateway to the South.”
The $300 million will be allocated across 10 years and includes:
- $45 million to fix pinch point at key intersections commencing 2015/16;
- $240 million to fix pinch points along key corridors commencing 2016/17; and
- $15 million will be invested in bus infrastructure improvements commencing in 2015/16.
Last week the Baird Government announced an election commitment worth $300 million to target congestion on Sydney’s worst 32 road corridors – this is in addition to that funding.
The projects are also in addition to work for the proposed F6 motorway. Last year the NSW Government allocated $11 million to commence investigations to deliver the F6. Transport for NSW and RMS are preparing a strategic business case for the motorway, to be completed later this year.
MEDIA: Cameron Hamilton (Premier) 8574 5000 or
Emma Higginson (Minister) 0467 743 192