Briefing held on F3 plans

Community representatives have visited the RTA's Transport Management Centre at Eveleigh.

The visit was most informative, according to Member for Peats, Ms Marie Andrews.

"A host of information about phasing in the various stages of the Driver Aid Scheme for the F3 was provided at the briefing.

"Motorists will be relieved to know that there are plans well in place to install a number of other driver aids which will complement the eight variable message signs already operating on the freeway," she said.

"These included variable speed limit signs and further installations of closed circuit television cameras to allow quick identification and resolution of traffic incidents and road congestion."

All components of the Driver Aid Scheme should be completed by 2001.

A wide range of Central Coast community representatives, including members of the media and local members of Parliament, attended the briefing.

They were told that what has been installed so far on the F3 was "only the tip of the iceberg".

In the meantime, motorists would benefit from the stage by stage implementation.

Road transport experts at the briefing acknowledged that the F3, which is part of the nation's No.1 highway, had already reached its capacity and needed to be upgraded to three lanes in both directions.

Ms Andrews said: "I call on the Federal Member for Robertson to honour his 1996 commitment to the electorate to have the F3 widened.

"While this matter is delayed, traffic conditions on the F3 will only get worse," she said.

The Transport Management Centre (TMC) helps to manage and co-ordinate activities on the NSW road network.

The TMC commenced operations at the Australian Technology Park in Eveleigh in August last year.

Purpose-built for the RTA at a cost of about $30 million, the TMC replaced the Sydney Traffic Control Centre which operated from leased premises in Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, from 1976.