Construction contract awarded for $85m Wakehurst Parkway Improvements

The delivery of the $85.1 million Wakehurst Parkway improvements is getting underway with the awarding of the construction contract to Ertech Pty Ltd.

With the completion of detailed design, construction is on track to start mid this year, with site establishment works to commence in the coming months.

Wakehurst Parkway is a key arterial route that links Pittwater Road at North Narrabeen with Warringah Road at Frenchs Forest. This corridor currently experiences congestion at peak periods and flood-related disruptions that affect travel reliability for local communities.

“This is a good day for the thousands of commuters who use the Wakehurst Parkway daily.

“The award of this contract represents an important step towards smoother, safer journeys for Northern Beaches motorists.

“I’d like to thank the Member for Wakehurst, Michael Regan and Member for Pittwater, Jacqui Scruby and their local communities for their steadfast advocacy on this project.

“The project forms part of broader work underway to improve the road network across the Northern Beaches,” Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said.

The Wakehurst Parkway Improvements is a commitment by the Minns Labor Government, and it will deliver targeted upgrades along the Parkway to enhance network efficiency and traffic flow, improve safety by reducing crashes in key cluster areas, increase capacity for future traffic growth and support better access for walking, cycling and public transport.

This project is proposed to deliver upgrades to sections of Wakehurst Parkway, including:

• North – Elanora Road and Mirrool Street
  • Shoulder widening along Wakehurst Parkway northbound and southbound to improve traffic flow and create a new left turn bay into Mirrool Street
  • Relocating the existing give way line and kerb line at Elanora Road intersection to improve visibility
  • Converting the service road near Palm Terrace to left out only to improve safety and directing all other movements to Mirrool Street
  • Installation of concrete median at existing non-compliant holding bay
• South – Dreadnought Road and Oxford Falls Road
  • Upgrades to the Dreadnought Road intersection including new bus stops, additional signalised pedestrian crossing, new southbound left turn slip lane and extension of the right turn bay from Wakehurst Parkway onto Dreadnought Road
  • Additional lanes in both directions between Dreadnought Road and Oxford Falls Road to improve traffic flow
  • Upgrades to Oxford Falls Road intersection including a new southbound right turn bay and a dedicated northbound left turn lane
  • Flood improvement work to help address flooding in this section of Wakehurst Parkway, in partnership with Northern Beaches Council
• South – Dreadnought Road and Trefoil Creek
  • Widening of the southbound lane between Oxford Falls Road to Frenchs Forest Road to create dual lanes, improving traffic flow

“Today we’re marking a major milestone for the much-anticipated upgrades to Wakehurst Parkway. I campaigned on securing funding for these works in the 2023 election and I’ve been holding the NSW Government to account on delivering their commitment ever since. The awarding of the contract, with a clear timeframe, gives me confidence we will see these critical works delivered.

“But there is so much more to do to improve our road network, especially our key corridors along Warringah and Pittwater Roads connecting us to Chatswood and the CBD. That’s why I’m encouraging everyone to participate in the Northern Beaches Network Review consultation.

“With no rail, metro or light rail, roads are absolutely critical to the functioning of our daily lives – for both private vehicle use and mass public transport. I want to see every step possible taken to make our road and public transport network work better for Northern Beaches residents. This is an important opportunity to tell the NSW Government what we want and expect to see – please have your say,” Member for Wakehurst Michael Regan said.

Project map (source: Transport for NSW)

The New South Wales Government has also commenced consultation on the Northern Beaches Network Review, which is a network-wide analysis of the key road corridors that move people and goods across Sydney’s Lower North Shore and Northern Beaches.

This review examines the performance of the current transport network and identifies short and medium-term opportunities to improve travel reliability, reduce congestion, and enhance safety to and from the Northern Beaches and Lower North Shore.

The Northern Beaches Network Review adopts a holistic approach and recognises key challenges across the road network. It also identifies practical opportunities to improve the network by making better use of existing roads and infrastructure.

Opportunities include improving bus reliability, upgrading busy intersections, improving traffic flow on key corridors, addressing rat-running through local streets and targeting safety hot spots.

The State Govenrment is committed to getting essential works underway, with a focus on practical improvements that can be delivered in the short to medium term to make trips safer, more reliable and more predictable while also supporting future growth and complementing major projects already underway.

Feedback from the community is being sought to test whether the Northern Beaches Network Review reflects lived experience of motorists and commuters. Feedback will also help shape the next steps for the project. The community can have their say here.

“The Northern Beaches Road Network Review puts the Northern Beaches community in the driver’s seat, and we want to hear from locals, to help shape the future of transport in their community.

“People who use the network every day know what works and what doesn’t, and their voices will help shape the next wave of realistic, deliverable improvements.

“By listening to local experiences, we can deliver improvements that make a real difference now and into the future,” Minister Aitchison said.

“After decades of broken roads and promises we now have a contractor for Wakehurst Parkway and the green light and preparatory works underway for the $500,000,000 Mona Vale Road West upgrade.

“Upgrading these major roads will be a gamechanger for Pittwater residents.

“However, we rely on the whole road and transport network, and we know it better than anyone – that’s why I’m calling on everyone who commutes to have their say on the NB Network Review to ensure our intersections, corridors and bus suggestions inform our transport corridors,” Member for Pittwater Jacqui Scruby said.

Source: NSW Government – Media Releases; Transport for NSW; Roads & Infrastructure Australia; Infrastructure Magazine