Proposed new traffic ramps and local area traffic management options

This project has been affected by the Federal Government's 2005 AusLink funding arrangement with NSW.

The four-year AusLink deal sees the Federal Government reduce funding levels for maintenance, and stops the funding of safety and urgent minor works. The NSW government is accommodating these funding shortfalls by delaying or reducing funding to other projects. The RTA is deferring several major projects for at least four years, including this project, and launching a new drive to reduce costs in the Roads and Traffic Authority.

Construction of this project will need to be deferred for at least four years.

About the proposal

The NSW Government was considering improvements to the South Sydney road network and had developed a proposal to construct south-facing traffic ramps between Gardeners Road and Southern Cross Drive at Eastlakes. Noting the above, should the proposal proceed, a direct link will be created for the first time between these two major roads.

The new traffic ramps would have an impact on local road traffic movements and access. This proposal would also include options for local area traffic management.

Key features

This project included the consideration of:

• Construction of a single-lane, northbound exit ramp from Southern Cross Drive to provide one left slip lane and two right-turn lanes into Gardeners Road.
• Construction of a single-lane, southbound entry ramp from Gardeners Road to Southern Cross Drive.
• Two westbound lanes on Gardeners Road between the ramps.
• Installation of traffic signals at the intersections of the ramps with Gardeners Road, including provision for pedestrians.
• Removing the existing signalised pedestrian crossing near Tunstall Avenue.
• Installation of a signalised intersection with pedestrian crossings at Slattery Place.
• Local area traffic management.

Benefits

The construction of south-facing traffic ramps between Southern Cross Drive and Gardeners Road would provide benefits to both the local community and to through traffic, including:

• Improved accessibility to local and regional places.
• Improved traffic flow and reduced travel time by easing traffic congestion in areas to the north of these ramps, during both morning and afternoon peak periods.
• Improved safety for all road users including pedestrians and cyclists.

Local area traffic management

Some traffic exiting Southern Cross Drive would access local destinations. Discussions and submissions to date have raised several ideas and options for managing this traffic flow.

The project would include the consideration of possible changes to traffic movements in the area around the proposed ramps. The area to be considered is bounded by Southern Cross Drive, Gardeners Road, Anzac Parade and Todman Avenue.

Initial investigations noted there is unlikely to be traffic impacts on areas to the west of Southern Cross Drive.

For more information about the proposal contact:

Phil Mahoney
Phone: (02) 8814 2122
Email: Phil_Mahoney@rta.nsw.gov.au