The waiting game: Frustrated motorists sit in congested traffic on The Northern Road on Tuesday morning. The state government says tage one work will include the installation of traffic lights at The Northern Road and Sherringham Road intersection. Lindsay MP David Bradbury says the state government received $5.15 million federal funding to get the project started by the end of 2011. Pictures: Gary Warrick
The waiting game: Frustrated motorists sit in congested traffic on The Northern Road on Tuesday morning. The state government says tage one work will include the installation of traffic lights at The Northern Road and Sherringham Road intersection. Lindsay MP David Bradbury says the state government received $5.15 million federal funding to get the project started by the end of 2011. Pictures: Gary Warrick
The waiting game: Frustrated motorists sit in congested traffic on The Northern Road on Tuesday morning. The state government says tage one work will include the installation of traffic lights at The Northern Road and Sherringham Road intersection. Lindsay MP David Bradbury says the state government received $5.15 million federal funding to get the project started by the end of 2011. Pictures: Gary Warrick
The state government has some explaining to do to residents as to why it’s taking so so long fix two blackspots on The Northern Road.
It’s been 603 days since roads minister Duncan Gay wrote to Lindsay MP David Bradbury, promising that widening of The Northern Road between Andrews Road and Borrowdale Way and lights on the corner of Sherringham Road would begin by the end of 2011 in Cranebrook.
The federal government allocated $450,000 in the 2009-10 Budget for traffic lights on Sherringham Road.
The funding was rolled into the one project when an additional $4.7 million was allocated to widen The Northern Road in 2009.
Fast forward to 2013 and work hasn’t started on either project.
‘‘This should be above politics, the longer this project is delayed, the longer residents have to put up with this black spot,’’ Mr Bradbury said.
Cranebrook resident Myra McMahon wants to know. what has happened to the funding.
‘‘Someone’s not doing their job. It should have been fixed up before Jordan Springs was developed. Cranebrook has been forgotten about. It took 25 years to fix up Borrowdale Way.’’
She described Sherringham Road as a death trap.
‘‘My brother has taken people to hospital injured in accidents,’’ Mrs McMahon said.
‘‘You’re taking your life into your own hands with some of drivers on the roads.’’
Mrs McMahon had this plea.
‘‘Do your job and get the road fixed,’’ she said.
‘‘Otherwise, there will be accident after accident, ambulance after ambulance and money spent on the health system and at Nepean Hospital that could have been saved. We are entitled to good roads.’’
Mr Gay hit back, accusing Mr Bradbury of misleading residents.
He said The Northern Road will be upgraded by Lend Lease as part of its agreement with the government over Jordan Springs.
The initial Review of Environmental factors identified heritage and indigenous archaeological issues which delayed the project by six months.
‘‘And he forgets to mention that the developer has applied to the Department of Planning and Infrastructure to change the deed of variation,’’ Mr Gay said.
Tenders for stage one of the project are to be called in early April and stage one work is expected to start by July.
What roads in the St Marys-Mt Druitt area need upgrading? Comment at stmarysstar.com.au or join the conversation on the St Marys-Mt Druitt Star Facebook page.