NSW Premier and Minister for Western Sydney Barry O’Farrell, Roads Minister Duncan Gay and Penrith MP, Stuart Ayres today inspected the exit ramp on the M4 at Russell Street, which has been targeted for a $2 million safety upgrade under the NSW Government’s pinch point program.
The area has been identified as a pinch point where traffic exiting the M4 is often delayed by needing to give way to southbound traffic on Russell Street.
“Our pinch point program is all about making key roads in Western Sydney safer and helping them flow better,” Mr O’Farrell said.
“It means motorists can spend more time at home with their families – not stuck in traffic.”
Mr Gay said: “This queue can, at times, extend back onto the M4 creating major traffic problems and increasing the risk of high speed crashes.
“I’m delighted our recent budget allocated $2 million to carry out this work,” he said.
The NSW Government is looking at a number of possible solutions including:
- Installing traffic lights at the southbound approach to the roundabout on Russell Street from Emu Plains.
- A queue detector on the M4 off ramp to activate the traffic lights to stop southbound vehicles on Russell Street and allow a free flow of vehicles from the M4 off ramp through the roundabout.
- Providing a left turn lane about 90 metres long on the approach to the roundabout from the M4 westbound off ramp. This lane will further reduce queuing and provide more turning area for heavy vehicles turning right into Russell Street.
- Rebuilding the roundabout to make the right turn into Russell Street easier for heavy vehicles and safer for all road users.
Mr Ayres said: \”For years the Russell St off ramp had been neglected by Labor governments and placed in the too hard basket.
“These improvements will finally mean the people of Penrith will have a safe way to exit the M4 at Emu Plains.
\”This is another example of the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government getting on with the job of improving Western Sydney.\”
This project is part of the NSW Government’s pinch point program, which was given a $135 million boost in the budget.
The funding is for improvements over the next three years and is in addition to the $125 million already allocated for the program.
The program targets peak hour hot spots in key corridors in Sydney and develops measures to maintain and improve travel speeds.
In the past 12 months the program has resulted in:
- 57 minor infrastructure projects to improve traffic efficiency
- Eight electronic message signs to help with incident management
- 53 closed circuit TV cameras to improve the ability of the Transport Management Centre to monitor traffic and better manage incidents on the road network.
Over the next 12 months the Government will improve Western Sydney intersections at:
- James Ruse Drive and Parramatta Road at Clyde;
- Taren Point Road and Captain Cook Drive;
- Concord Road and Homebush Bay Drive;
- Pennant Hills Road and Marsden Road;
- Campbelltown and Glenfields Roads; and
- Great Western Highway and Reservoir Road
