Port residents can now have their say about a busy Nelson Bay Road intersection that is earmarked for $8.3 million worth of upgrades.
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Stage one of works to improve safety and congestion and the roundabout intersecting Medowie and Nelson Bay roads will begin mid-August but Roads and Maritime Service is calling on residents to provide feedback now on the stage two plans.
“The stage two upgrade proposal includes lane extensions, road widening, new line marking and extension of the existing cycleway,” a RMS spokesperson said.
“Stage two of the proposed upgrade is expected to start at the end of this year, once the final design has been completed.
“Work on stage one will start in early August and will involve changes to line marking to provide a second right turning lane from Medowie Road towards Newcastle.”
In an attempt to repair the damage of a broken election promise to fund key upgrades to Nelson Bay Road, the NSW Government included $8.3 million in the June 2018 budget to improve safety and reduce congestion along the notorious stretch of road.
Budget money will also be used to plan for future improvements at the Nelson Bay Road and Lemon Passage Road intersection.
The NSW Government, months out from the next state election on March 23, found $8.3 million to get the ball rolling on the project this financial year.
It came after former NSW Premier Mike Baird promised 10 days before the 2015 election to spend $70 million on duplicating parts of the road before 2019.
However, Fairfax Media reported in March that an internal RMS document from late 2016 showed that only a fraction of the money, $226,000, would be spent before 2020-21.
The RMS spokesperson said the upgrade to Nelson Bay Road and Medowie Road roundabout will provide better connectivity for people accessing Newcastle Airport and Port Stephens as well as improving safety for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.
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Stage two of the upgrade is scheduled to start in late 2018. The proposed stage two improvements include:
- Providing a left turn lane on the western leg of the roundabout towards Medowie.
- Improving the alignment of the roundabout westbound to improve safety of vehicle movements.
- Extending the length of the right turn lane on Medowie Road on the approach to the northern leg of the roundabout.
- Extending the length of the left hand lane on the departure of the eastern leg of the roundabout towards Nelson Bay.
- Providing off road cycle paths around the roundabout to allow cyclists to traverse the intersection safely.
- Providing footpath and kerb ramps to improve safety for pedestrians.
- Extending the existing culvert to allow road widening on Medowie Road.
RMS said it is working with the NSW EPA to ensure the “appropriate management” of any potential PFAS contact during the delivery of the project.
Motorists are advised to drive to the conditions, and follow the direction of signs and traffic control during the roadworks.
Feedback on the plans is due by Friday, August 3 and can be made by emailing the project manager, Julian Mehanathan, at julian.mehanathan@rms.nsw.gov.au or by mailing Stage Two Nelson Bay Road, Roads and Maritime Services, Locked Bag 2030, Newcastle NSW 2300.
RMS said all feedback will be considered for inclusion in the final design.