Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) has completed Stage 1 of a $5 million project at the Balaclava Road-Epping Road at Marsfield.

Changes to traffic arrangements introduced in early October 2012 has improved the reliability of bus services and the flow of general traffic on Balaclava Road northbound between Abuklea Road and the Epping Road intersection in the morning peak.

New traffic arrangements

• A red AM bus lane now operates Monday to Friday from 6am to10am on Balaclava Road northbound from Agincourt Road to just beyond Kooyong Street. Note: Parking on the bus lane is only permitted outside these times.
• An additional traffic lane on Balaclava Road northbound is operating on the approach to the Epping Road intersection.

Other benefits

Other benefits for traffic flowing from the project include:

• Provision of two right-turn lanes for vehicles turning from Epping Road westbound into Balaclava Road northbound to access Macquarie University.
• Provision of a new slip lane for traffic turning left from Balaclava Road into Epping Road westbound.
• Conversion of the kerbside lane of Epping Road westbound to Left Turn Only Buses Excepted on the approach to the Balaclava Road intersection.

The new bus lane on Balaclava Road northbound does not restrict access to properties. General traffic is permitted to travel in a bus lane for up to 100 metres to enter or leave a property adjacent to the bus lane, turn left or right into a street or pass another vehicle that has stopped to turn right.

Illegal use of a bus lane incurs one driver licence demerit point and a fine of $258.

Stage 2 of the Balaclava Road bus priority project is scheduled to the undertaken by Ryde City Council in the first quarter of 2013. Stage 2 involves replacing the existing roundabout with traffic lights at the intersection of Balaclava Road and Agincourt Road and extending the AM bus lane from Abuklea Road to Agincourt Road.