Background
The F3 Freeway carries in excess of 75,000 vehicles per day between Sydney and the Central Coast.
Managing major traffic incidents on the F3 Freeway is challenging as the only detour route between Wahroonga and Ourimbah is the Pacific Highway, which has limited capacity to cope with traffic volumes diverted from the freeway during incidents.
Incidents can involve a partial or complete closure of the freeway. The NSW Police, the RTA, other emergency service providers and salvage operators work together to implement traffic management measures to minimise traffic disruption.
The project
The NSW Government is funding a $28 million emergency traffic management plan to reduce the impact of major crashes and incidents on the F3 between Wahroonga and Ourimbah.
Features of this plan include:
- Diverting traffic to the opposite side of the F3 during major incidents under a new contra-flow plan.
- Upgrading 17 crossover points and constructing two more crossover points to safely swap traffic to the opposite side of the freeway.
- Installing an additional 17 variable message signs on the freeway and major approach roads to provide information to motorists faster.
- Adding an extra seven traffic cameras to monitor the F3, bringing to 29 the number of live feeds to the RTA’s Transport Management Centre.
- Providing a total of five live camera images covering the F3 on this website.
- Arranging supplies of bottled water for distribution to stranded motorists in the event of extended delays.
- Establishing eight additional storage depots with emergency traffic supplies such as traffic cones, barriers boards and oil sorbent to allow the contra-flow arrangement to be implemented.
- Setting up an emergency hotdesk at the RTA’s Transport Management Centre dedicated to dealing with incidents on the freeway.
Current situation
Fifteen crossovers are now available for use and these are located near the interchanges at Wahroonga, Berowra, Mt White, Calga, Kariong and Ourimbah. The remaining crossovers will be introduced progressively.
Emergency traffic supplies (eg traffic cones and oil spill sorbent) are being stored in temporary containers pending the construction of permanent garaging.
Work will be completed in stages by late 2009 and the installation of variable message signs will continue until December 2009.
Minor delays in off peak periods are expected during some works. The RTA apologises for any delay caused by these essential activities.
For more information
For more information please phone the RTA's project manager Craig Leckie on 02 4379 7001 during business hours or email Craig_Leckie@rta.nsw.gov.au.
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