Roads and Maritime Services has declined to respond to claims two key roads in the Ilawarra are almost at capacity.
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Earlier this week a joint report from the Illawarra Business Chamber and the NRMA claimed the M1 Princes Motorway at Mt Ousley and Picton Road were both nearing capacity.
According to the report, Picton Road carried 20,000 vehicles a day – 25 per cent of which were heavy vehicles – and volumes were increasing at around 8 per cent each year.
At that rate the report concluded Picton Road would hit its peak hour capacity by 2022 and the daily capacity by 2025.
The report said the M1 Princes Motorway was expected to reach its estimated peak hour capacity in 2024 and its daily capacity two years later, in 2026.
A spokesman for Roads and Maritime Services did not respond to questions about whether it agreed with the deadlines stated in the joint Illawarra Business Chamber and NRMA report.
Nor did he respond to the question of whether these roads may reach capacity in around seven years was a cause for concern for Roads and Maritime Services.
Instead the spokesman chose to point out the range of past, present and future works done on both of these roads.
In the case of the M1 Princes Motorway at Mt Ousley, the spokesman referred to the already-announced interchange at the base of the hill, which would “improve road safety, travel times and cater for the efficient movement of future traffic and freight growth”.
When it comes to Picton Road, the spokesman said the government had funded a $53 million package of work.
“This work has resulted in a decrease of around 25 per cent of crashes in recent years, while head-on collisions have decreased by almost 80 per cent,” the spokesman said.
The Roads and Maritime Services spokesman said studies were also being carried out on the Picton Road and the surrounding area.
“Roads and Maritime and Transport for NSW have drafted the Picton Road Corridor Strategy, which is currently progressing through the review process,” the spokesman said.
“The strategy identifies priorities and further potential improvements along the Picton Road corridor including safety improvements and capacity upgrades.
“Roads and Maritime, Transport for NSW and the Department of Planning are also working together to understand and plan for the expected impacts of development around the Wilton Priority Growth Area.
“This includes identifying the timing and type of infrastructure required.”
Glen Humphries
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
