Work began on upgrades to several key intersections across the Woy Woy Peninsula on Tuesday, July 1.
Part of a $19M investment by the NSW Government, the upgrades will transform three key chokepoints that have plagued local families for years, cutting travel times and dramatically improving safety for the 22,000 vehicles that travel on the Blackwall Rd corridor every day.
The full project is expected to be complete within two years.
The government has worked directly with residents and community to incorporate their feedback into the final designs.
Upgrades are expected to deliver improved freight access for business and safer streets for children walking to school.
They will future-proof the Peninsula’s critical transport spine as the Central Coast continues to grow.
At the intersection of Blackwall Rd and McMasters Rd, there will be new pedestrian-activated traffic lights on the south side and a new right-turn bay on the northern leg to reduce congestion.
Both sides of McMasters Rd will become left-turn only onto Blackwall Rd for improved safety.
At the intersection of Memorial Ave, Maitland Bay Dr and Barrenjoey Rd, there will be dual right-turn lanes from Maitland Bay Dr to Memorial Ave.
There will be separate left and right-turn lanes for motorists exiting Gallipoli Ave.
The intersection of Blackwall, Allfield and Farnell Rds upgrade is currently being reviewed.
Transport for NSW will update the community when this has been finalised and will start consultation if required.
The upgrade of this intersection will be the final stage of work for the project.
Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said every motorist stuck in peak-hour traffic on Blackwall Rd knew the investment couldn’t come soon enough.
Minister for the Central Coast and Member for Wyong David Harris said population growth shouldn’t mean accepting gridlock as normal.
“These smart, targeted upgrades will unlock the Peninsula’s potential while making every journey safer and more reliable for the thousands of families who call the Central Coast home,” he said.
Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said as the Peninsula community grew, the upgrades were vital.
“We are ensuring that our infrastructure is fit for the future, making sure that our community can get where they need to go on Blackwall Rd, without needless traffic delays,” she said.
“Blackwall Rd and Memorial Ave provide crucial links between Woy Woy, Ettalong, Umina and the suburbs on the eastern side of the Rip Bridge including Daleys Point and St Huberts Island.
“As a vital link for our community, this investment plays a crucial role in supporting our communities’ connection and growth.”
good to see all these improvements,but how about resurfacing some of our local thoroughfare’s e.g albion steet umina.new surface has been done from springwood st end for about one third only.why hasnt it gone through to trafalgar ave.
Great to see the government pumping some funding into the local road system around the areas mentioned.Being such a beautiful part of the Central Coast,and with the ever growing local and tourist contingent building,once again it improves safety for all users no doubt.The geographical nature of the region needed to be showcased,and fresh road design reassures that attractiveness.
have to agree with a previous comment about resurfacing roads. in south umina from calypta to kahiba every time it rains dangerous pothole opens up and for the last 7 years they have just been spot filled and the second it rains again it all washes out. this is a bus route and I have been thrown off my seat many times due to how bumpy this section of road is. The area is full of older people who rely on this bus service as well as walk these roads and it’s a real problem.
hope this includes the footpaths leading up to blackwall so no one else trips in the cracks
more cycling / scooter paths along tge esplanade needed.The current shared path is hardly adequate for the volume of pedestrian, bikes scooters and disability scooters using this highly popular waterfront way.
agree. resurfacing would go a long way. a good candidate for some TLC would be the Esplanade at Ettalong. It’s one of the worst roads I’ve seen for a long time.
Yes pot holes first on the esplanade at ettalong absolutely terrible it’s being this way for yrs