[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/6″ offset=”vc_col-lg-1/5 vc_col-md-1/5 vc_col-xs-1/5″][us_image image=”81834″ size=”thumbnail” align=”left” style=”circle” has_ratio=”1″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/12″ offset=”vc_col-lg-4/5 vc_col-md-4/5 vc_col-xs-4/5″][vc_column_text]By Annette Madjarian[/vc_column_text][us_post_date][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
The NSW Government has allocated $70 million to widen New Line Road upgrade from single lanes to dual carriageways between Purchase Road and Hastings Road, as part of its Budget announcement.
Treasurer and Hornsby MP Matt Kean said the record funding was crucial to improve travel times, reduce congestion and “make our community safer”. The much-needed upgrade would widen the Pyes Creek Bridge in a bid to improve traffic flow and make what Mr Kean said would be “an enormous difference to those that live and travel through the area”.
“The traffic snarls all along New Line Road have been terrible for many years and this has certainly been exacerbated more recently with the temporary closure of Galston Gorge,” Mr Kean said.
“I am very pleased for residents that I have been able to secure funding to finally start fixing New Line Road once and for all,” he said. Traffic on New Line Road has been a bone of contention for locals for decades.
Residents have suffered from traffic snarls and congestion, particularly during peak periods such as before and after school hours and peak commuting hours for workers.
New Line Road is currently built on an embankment with culverts over Pyes Creek, with one lane of traffic in each direction and a narrow footpath on the eastern side of the road. Steep grades, merging of traffic lanes into one lane in each direction and heavy vehicle usage of New Line Road on either side of Pyes Creek have all contributed to traffic upheaval for residents in and around the area.
In September 2020, the NSW Government spent $20 million to investigate improvements to New Line Road from Old Northern Road, Dural to Castle Hill Road, West Pennant Hills.
During project development, Pyes Creek, County Drive/Shepherds Drive roundabout, Old Northern Road roundabout and the partially signalised Hastings
Road intersections were identified as key locations of congestion along the corridor.
Mr Kean said the full project, being delivered in stages, would involve an upgrade of New Line Road to two lanes in each direction from Old Northern Road at Dural to Castle Hill Road at West Pennant Hills.
The Treasurer said his first Budget would not skimp on infrastructure, and that more than $110 billion would be spent in this critical space.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][us_image image=”81879″ size=”full” align=”center”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][us_image image=”81883″ size=”full” align=”center”][us_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row]
