Central Coast Highway with Brisbane Water Drive and Manns Road at West Gosford

Options to upgrade the intersections of Central Coast Highway with Brisbane Water Drive and Manns Road at West Gosford are now on display for your comment until 28 March 2008. This project is fully funded by the NSW Government.

Background

The Central Coast Highway provides the major road link from the F3 Sydney – Newcastle Freeway to Gosford, Erina and the coastal suburbs. Brisbane Water Drive and Manns Road are vital links between Gosford, Woy Woy and Narara providing access to railway stations, local businesses and shopping centres, the Central Coast Highway and the F3 Freeway. To manage traffic and the growth of development in the area upgrades to the existing offset T-intersections are required. The junctions of the Central Coast Highway with Brisbane Water Drive and Manns Road were identified for upgrading. Improvements to traffic flow and safety were implemented in 2002. These included:

• Construction of a third right-turn lane and a left-turn lane from Brisbane Water Drive onto the Central Coast Highway.
• Changes to extend the turning lane into Manns Road.
• Adjustments to the timing of the traffic signals.

These traffic improvements have continued to provide benefits. The RTA is now considering options to assist the orderly planning and development of West Gosford.

Intersection upgrade options

The RTA has considered several options. The impact of each option on local traffic has been evaluated through computer modelling. Options included:

• Numerous ground level intersection configurations.
• A roundabout with an east-west two level interchange.
• Offset intersections with a centrally placed east-west bridge structure and north-south structure.
• A number of tunnel and/or bridge options with looped ramp configurations.

The multilevel interchanges are not preferred due to the constraints of the surrounding network, the additional visual and property impacts and limited traffic benefits. For example, a centrally placed east-west bridge structure would require the doubling of the existing road corridor. Such an impact is not warranted at this stage.

The two options with the most benefits and least impacts are shown for the community to compare and provide comment. Both options can be upgraded when traffic volumes increase to a point that requires a multi-level interchange.

OPTION 1 Upgrading the existing T-junctions OPTION 2 Upgrading to a cross junction

Option 1 would upgrade the existing two closely spaced, offset T-intersections of the Central Coast Highway with Brisbane Water Drive and Manns Road. Features include:

• Additional lanes for the right turn from the Central Coast Highway westbound into Manns Road.
• Dual right turn lanes from the Central Coast Highway eastbound into Brisbane Water Drive.
• Parking along Brisbane Water Drive would be removed at the West Gosford Shopping Centre.
• This upgrade is predicted to provide medium term capacity improvements for up to 15 years.
• Cost effective options to provide improved accessibility into the Jusfrute Drive development are under consideration.
• Option 1 is compatible with a future multilevel upgrade when traffic volumes increase to a point where these works are required.
• This option would impact up to 16 commercial and 27 residential properties.
• Lowest cost option.

Option 2 would provide a four-leg signalised intersection. Features include:

• Brisbane Water Drive and Manns Road would meet at a new cross junction with multi-lane approaches.
• There would be greater opportunities for landscaping and urban design treatments.
• The four-leg intersection would provide greater safety benefits and provide the most efficient single level intersection for road users.
• This upgrade is predicted to provide long term capacity improvements of over 20 years. Traffic benefits of this option are equal to a multi-level upgrade of Option 1.
• Cost effective options to provide improved accessibility into the Jusfrute Drive development are under consideration.
• Option 2 is compatible with a future multilevel upgrade when traffic volumes increase to a point where these works are required.
• This option would impact up to 23 commercial and 27 residential properties.
• Higher cost option.

Visit a display

The options outlined in this community update are also on display. You can view a display until Friday 28 March 2008 at the following locations:

Gosford Motor Registry
Shops 11 and 12 Park Plaza Corner William Street and Henry Parry Drive Gosford
Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5pm,
Saturday from 8.30am to Noon.

Erina Motor Registry
Lot 102, Karalta Lane Building B, Erina
Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5pm,
Saturday from 8.30am to Noon.

Woy Woy Motor Registry
39 Victoria Road,Woy Woy
Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

RTA Central Coast Office
The Pavilion, Upper Level 29 George Street Woy Woy
Monday to Friday from 9am to 4.30pm.

RTA Vehicle Regulations Office
Corner Dell Road and Manns Road West Gosford
Wednesdays only from 9am to Noon
and from 12.45pm to 4pm.

What happens next?

Have your say

Your comments on the options outlined are appreciated.

All information included in correspondence is collected for the sole purpose of assisting in the assessment of this proposal. The information received, including names and addresses of respondents, may be published in subsequent assessment documents unless clear indication is given in the correspondence that all or part of that information is not to be published.

For further information contact the project manager, Laith Alazawi: 02 4379 7001, email Laith_Alazawi@rta.nsw.gov.au.