Council seeks underpass
Gosford Council has resolved to lodge a submission with the RTA to upgrade the Brisbane Water Dr intersection at West Gosford with an underpass under the Central Coast Hwy.
The decision comes after council's preferred option of a flyover was rejected.
Council has requested the RTA undertake road pavement strengthening on the local roads that are required to accommodate increased traffic volumes and varied traffic conditions as part of the overall project.
Council will also write to the Minister for Roads requesting that the local roads affected by the changed traffic conditions be reclassified as state roads, according to a council staff report.
Peninsula Chamber of Commerce president Mr Matthew Wales said it was vital for the upgrade to proceed as quickly as possible.
"Following years of speculation and endless discussion, the Peninsula business community are of the view that work needs to progress as soon as possible so that this bottleneck is fixed," Mr Wales said.
"The failure to upgrade the intersection has had serious flow-on effects to businesses in both Gosford and the Peninsula.
"Transport connections between the two business precincts need to be made as trouble-free as possible.
"This is a key piece of infrastructure that needs to be completed as soon as possible.
"We understand that some $32 million has already been allocated to the initial phase of the project.
"Therefore, in our view, any delays to the process are not about the available funds."
Mr Wales said the chamber had prepared a submission to the RTA by November 27 urging a quick decision on the project.
Brisbane Water Dr is one of only three access points to the Peninsula, the others being Woy Woy Rd and Empire Bay Dr.
Council agenda CIT.58, 24 Nov 2009
Press release, 4 Nov 2009
Matthew Wales, Peninsula Chamber of Commerce