Motorists on the Central Coast can enjoy improved traffic flow and safety with the upgrade of the Pacific Highway, between Lisarow and Ourimbah, now complete, as of October 9.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Scot MacDonald, said the NSW Liberal National Government invested $70m to upgrade the highway, increasing road capacity from one to two lanes in both directions, improving journey times and road user safety. “The Pacific Highway is a vital stretch of road connecting the urban, commercial and industrial precincts of Gosford and Wyong,” MacDonald said.
“The upgrade will improve traffic flow and travel times for around 30,000 motorists who travel on the 1.6km section of highway each day,” he added. MacDonald said the upgrade also delivered new sets of traffic lights with pedestrian crossing facilities at the Ourimbah St, Teralba St and Walmsley Rd intersections.
“Cyclists are also benefitting, with a new shared pedestrian and cycle path built on the western side of the highway to help promote active transport, as well as, two new bridges having been built across Cut Rock Creek. “The upgrade has also had a positive impact on the local economy, with around 1,200 workers inducted on site during the project,” MacDonald said.
“With Stage 3A of the upgrade of the Pacific Highway corridor on the Central Coast now complete, the construction contract for Stage 3B, to upgrade the highway at Lisarow, between Parsons Rd and Ourimbah St, is expected to be awarded in the coming months. “Stage 4 involves upgrading the Pacific Highway and Manns Rd, between Narara Creek Rd at Narara and Parsons Rd at Lisarow.
“The NSW Government is investing a further $3m this financial year to continue long term planning for Stage 5 of the upgrade on Manns Rd, between Stockyard Pl at West Gosford and Narara Creek Rd at Narara,” he said. “The Pacifi c Highway is the major road linking the M1 Pacific Motorway with Ourimbah, Lisarow and surrounding coastal suburbs,” MacDonald said. “The road through Ourimbah is heavily congested during peak hours, so this upgrade has been very much anticipated and welcomed by the community,” he concluded.
Source: Media release, Oct 9 Kit Hale, Office of Scot MacDonald MLC