An $820,000 commitment from the NSW Government to improve traffic flow for motorists on Norwest Boulevarde will do nothing for workers and businesses in Norwest Business Park, according to Hills Shire Mayor Dr Michelle Byrne.
Last week, NSW Roads Minister Duncan Gay announced that Norwest Bouelvarde would benefit from the state funding. However the funding will go towards the intersection with Old Windsor Rd and Norwest Boulevarde near Greenhills Drive on the Glenwood side of the road as shown below.
Although acknowledging that motorists coming off the M7 at Glenwood turning into Old Windsor Rd would benefit from the improvement works, Mayor Byrne said the far more pressing issue of Norwest Boulevarde was the intersection with Lexington Drive and Elizabeth Macarthur Drive.
“Norwest Boulevarde is at breaking point during the morning and afternoon peak periods,” Mayor Byrne said.
“The recently-released Hills Business PSI Report, which measures business sentiment, revealed that the number one issue facing businesses in The Hills was infrastructure. With the roads as congested as Norwest Boulevarde is, it’s easy to see why business people are so frustrated.”
Mayor Byrne said the situation on Norwest Boulevarde meant that congestion was spilling onto local roads in Bella Vista, not designed to handle high traffic volumes.
“I’ve raised this issue with Mr Gay and his response has been positive. He said that RMS would fast-track investigations into temporary solutions for the roundabout at the intersection of Norwest Boulevarde, Lexington Drive and Elizabeth Macarthur Drive.”
“When I heard the Government was throwing some money at Norwest Boulevarde, I was hoping that’s where it would go.”
“It’s great that the Minister has recognised that Norwest Boulevarde is a pinch-point in Sydney’s Road network, however the real pinch point is within the Business Park.”
“I call on Mr Gay to urgently review the situation on Norwest Boulevarde before Norwest misses out on the growth it’s expected to get.”
