Transport department backs away from rail underpass

Transport for NSW appears to be backing away from its commitment to complete the second stage of the Woy Woy rail underpass project.

It has increased its estimates of project completion costs from $52 million to $115 million.

No progress has been made on the second stage of the project since Gosford Council announced last August it had started pre-construction activities on the stage the council estimates will cost $36 million.

Stage two of the project at Bulls Hill was to include the construction of a new vehicle underpass at Nagari Rd, reconstruction of Nagari Rd and construction of the Woy Woy Creek Bridge.

The NSW Government has so far committed $52 million in funding to help council design and implement the Rawson Road Railway Level Crossing Replacement Project.

The deputy mayor for Gosford Cr Craig Doyle said council had written to the State Government to confirm its position in relation to the project several months ago and had not yet received a reply.

"Months ago the design and construction of the bridge was completely taken over by Transport for NSW," he said.

Since then the costings for project completion have escalated from $52 million to $115 million but no explanation or information about the increase has been provided by the department to Gosford Council.

Cr Doyle said Gosford Council still had $12 million to complete its share of the works but Transport for NSW has said that it would not have a problem if the council went ahead and spent those funds on other projects.

"Gosford Council has not slowed this project down, in fact, we are seeking to get it finished," Cr Doyle said.

"There has been no justification of why Transport for NSW has costed its completion at two times everyone else's costs.

"Any way you look at it this is not an acceptable position and it looks like Transport for NSW is shaking in its commitment to get the project done," he said.

Gosford Council chief Mr Paul Anderson confirmed that responsibility for certain parts of the project were now with Transport for NSW, including the underpass.

"They have been doing a whole range of design and costing exercises," Mr Anderson said.

"Other parts of the project are with us including the final costing and ultimate design certification works for the road but obviously, with that sort of project, you are not going to go and do the roadworks until the rail and bridge work is done," he said.

Mr Anderson said the required rail work would include closures and, due to the fact the level crossing is on the main north-south rail line, those closures can only occur at certain times.

"Which is why the project is a long and protracted process," he said.

"The pedestrian underpass, before it was completed, required a couple of closures to allow that work to happen," he said

Mr Anderson said he could confirm that the overall project did involve plans for the straightening of Woy Woy Rd around the Bays.

"But that was never included in the current stages or works, it was a future stage that was announced by Mr Barry O'Farrell when he was trying to become premier," he said.

Gosford Council had started acquiring land to accommodate the road straightening but Mr Anderson said those acquisitions had been put on hold.

He said he did not know the time frame for the completion of the Rawson Rd rail bridge.

"The project team meet pretty regularly to talk about it," he said.

Transport for NSW dismissed a request from Peninsula News to confirm when designs and costings would be complete, when their part of the stage two works would commence and whether they had a completion date.

"This is actually a Gosford Council project," the Transport for NSW media unit claimed.

"They have your enquiry and will be able to give you an update on the project".

However, Gosford Council's director of construction and operations Mr Stan Antczak said: "Because of technical issues to do with occupation of the railway line at some future part of the stage two construction, the bridge component went back to Transport for NSW to undertake design and construct.

"At this period of time we are waiting on formal advice from the minister about where the project is heading," Mr Antczak said.

The Rawson Road Level Crossing Replacement Project was approved by the Joint Regional Planning Panel in December 2013 and was to be completed over four stages.

The aims of the project were to address safety concerns associated with the existing level crossing at Rawson Rd, upgrade the road and drainage infrastructure and improve traffic movement through Woy Woy.

Stage one, the Rawson Rd pedestrian underpass and Shoalhaven Dve existing rail bridge augmentation were completed in 2015.

Stage two included Shoalhaven Dve along Nagari Rd to Woy Woy Rd (north).

Stage three was the upgrade of Rawson Rd to Soalhaven Dve including an upgrade to Waterview St.

The final stage involved works to Woy Woy Rd (north) at Bulls Hill up to Banyo Close.

The Peninsula News has asked parliamentary secretary for the Central Coast Mr Scot MacDonald, shadow minister for the Central Coast Mr David Harris and member for Gosford Ms Kathy Smith to comment on the status of the project.

Interview, 16 Mar 2016

Paul Anderson, Gosford Council

Interview, 17 Mar 2016

Craig Doyle, Gosford Council

Interview, 17 Mar 2016

Stan Antczak, Gosford Council

Reporter: Jackie Pearson