The Pinch Point Program targets peak hour traffic hotspots and investigates ways to relieve traffic congestion.
On 15 June 2012 the Premier, Mr Barry O'Farrell announced an extension of the Pinch Point Program. The program has received an additional $125 million for the next five years.
During the 2012/13 financial year there are 11 projects under construction with another 25 proposals being developed - these may be constructed through 2013/2014.
What is a pinch point?
Pinch Points are traffic congestion points, intersections or short lengths of road at which a traffic bottleneck exists slowing down the broader network. They cause a build up on traffic and travel delays at these spots and on the wider road network.
Roads and Maritime Services' focus is to improve these main roads, with the aim of reducing delays, managing congestion, improving safety and maintaining reliable travel times particularly during weekday peak periods.
The program has included projects such as:
- Improving intersections.
- Widening small sections of roadway.
- Lengthening or widening busy turn bays.
- Replacing heavily-used roundabouts with traffic signals.
- Implementing new tidal flow traffic schemes.
- Implementing clearways and parking restrictions during peak traffic periods.
- Incident management - installing closed circuit television (CCTV) and variable message signs (VMS).
Program Benefits and progress
Pinch Point projects:
- Improve the operational efficiency of Sydney's road transport network.
- Improve traffic flow and maximise use of road space.
- Help ease traffic congestion and improve the consistency of travel times for motorists, particularly during peak hours.
- Result in the better management of responses to incidents and planned events.
- Improve access of information to motorists while they are travelling on our road network.
Roads and Maritime Services has completed the first five year $100 million Pinch Point Program towards improving traffic flows on 23 of Sydney's busiest road corridors.
Over 120 projects on all 23 corridors were completed by 30 June 2012.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
We will continue to focus on:
- Working towards the NSW State Plan goal to increase the proportion of public transport trips.
- Improving traffic flow on the wider road network.
- Providing traffic information so drivers can make informed decisions.
- Develop and construct projects for the pinch point program.
Projects proposed for 2012-2013
Roads and Maritime Services is investigating the following corridors for potential improvement projects for implementation in future years.
- Campbelltown Road
- Cumberland Highway
- Great Western Highway
- Hume Highway
- M4 Interchanges
- Princes Highway
- Old Windsor Road
- Parramatta Road
- F3 Freeway and Pacific Highway
- Warringah Road
- James Ruse Drive
- Pennant Hills Road
- Taren Point Road
- Canterbury Road
- Parramatta Road (west)
- Hume Highway (north)
- Concord Road
Explore our projects
- Home
- Projects
- Alpha-numeric route numbers
- Building Sydney's Motorways
- Bus priority program
- Central Coast region
- Great Western Highway
- Hunter region
- Maintenance
- Northern region
- Pacific Highway upgrade
- Permanent Variable Message Signs
- Pinch point program
- Princes Highway upgrade
- South West region
- Southern region
- Sydney Harbour Bridge precinct
- Sydney region
- The Hunter Expressway
- Western region