The Wollongong Transport Coalition (WTC) is concerned that the Australian Government's
record funding of the Pacific Highway is diverting both federal and NSW
Government funds from other road and rail projects.
For some years, high
level of federal spending on the Pacific Highway has been conditional on significant
contributions from NSW Government funds.
This, in turn, has delayed road projects such as upgrading the Appin and
Picton Roads as well as the Princes Highway.
This is despite it
being increasingly obvious, and as pointed out by Infrastructure NSW in their
2012 report that future Pacific Highway projects will be on sections with lower traffic
volumes, with benefit cost ratios as low as 0.8. As this pro road report
states, the money would be better spent on other road projects.
On 23 December 2012,
there was fatal road crash on the notorious Mt Ousley F6 intersection,
which is at one level, allowing traffic from Fairy Meadow and other locations
to turn left to proceed up the Mt Ousley Road.
WTC calls for an
underpass or overpass at or near the intersection the Mt
Ousley Road and the F6. Such grade separation could also provide an improved access to the
University of Wollongong.
