Member for The Entrance, David Mehan, is calling on the NSW Government to restart work on Stage 4 of the Gosford bypass, where no work has occurred since 2016 and no work is anticipated for 10 years.
When complete, the bypass will see an upgrade of the Pacific Hwy from the M1 at Ourimbah extending to and including Manns Rd, West Gosford.
Mehan said more than 30,000 motorists use the route daily.
The bypass plan comprises five stages, of which two are complete with the third to be finished by the second half of next year.
Stage 1 saw the Pacific Hwy/Dog Trap Rd intersection upgraded in 2007 and Stage 2 achieved a widening of the highway between Glen Rd and Burns Rd, Ourimbah, in 2012.
The first part of Stage 3 saw the highway between Ourimbah St at Lisarow and Glen Rd at Ourimbah widened in 2016.
The second part of Stage 3, which will see the highway widened between Ourimbah St and Parsons Rd, Lisarow, is set for completion in the second half of next year.
Mehan said Stage 5 has been fully funded but not yet started and no real work to advance Stage 4 has occurred since 2016.
Stage 4 calls for an upgrade between Narara Creek Rd at Narara and Parsons Rd at Lisarow, with Stage 5 to complete the bypass with upgrades along Manns Rd between Stockyard Place, West Gosford, and Narara Creek Rd, Narara
Mehan said a Transport for NSW found the section of the highway between Narara and Lisarow was operating over capacity eight years ago and he has highlighted the issue in State Parliament.
“Central Coast residents have been bumper-to-bumper on this stretch of road for far too long and deserve better.”
member for the entrance david mehan
“Stage 4 is the missing link – without which the full benefits of the Gosford Bypass won’t be realised.
“I am calling on the State Government to restart work on stage 4 and build the missing link.”
Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch, said the major upgrade had been split into stages due to the complexity and size of this project.
Crouch said with the stages between the Pacific Hwy and Parsons Rd at Lisarow now complete or nearing completion, Transport for NSW (TfNSW) was now planning for further stages that include the upgrade of Manns Rd and the Pacific Hwy between Parsons Rd, Lisarow, and Stockyard Pl, West Gosford.
“The development of these stages prioritises two busy intersections at Stockyard Pl and Narara Creek Rd, with the State and Federal Governments having committed $66M towards these priority intersection upgrades,” he said.
“In 2018, our community was invited to comment on the review of environmental factors report and concept design for each of the priority intersections.
“The feedback was taken into account and responded to in a submissions report.
“Transport has since completed a detailed design for both priority intersections and is now in the process of ensuring the detailed design fits within this committed allocation.
“Detailed design plans for the priority intersections and an expected construction start date will be made available to our community once project funding is finalised.
“Outside of the priority intersections and the current funding commitment noted above, there is currently no specific timeframe for the remainder of the proposed projects between Lisarow and West Gosford to progress.
“It is considered unlikely any construction work will occur in these sections for at least five years, noting that planning approval, detail design and major construction procurement would be required prior to any construction activities.
“I will keep our community updated as the projects progress.”
Terry Collins
I was hoping to see this work completed before my demise but at this rate I’ll be long dead before a sod is turned!