Busy route south of Sydney has seen bad truck crashes as it gets busier
Transport for NSW will start work next week on safety improvements along a 1.7km section of Picton Road at Cordeaux.
The increasingly busy freight and motorists’ route that has seen some horrific truck crashes was at the centre of an ATN feature earlier this year on the issue of measures to avoid head-on collisions and the efficacy of differing centre barriers.
Transport for NSW regional director southern Jo Parrott said the project is part of a $6.9 million package of safety improvements for Picton Road over the next two years funded under the Safer Roads Program.
“This project will improve safety at this location by reducing the risk of head-on crashes, providing a barrier between vehicles and roadside hazards as well as providing more room for vehicles to recover,” Parrott says.
“The improvements will include widening the road to install a median barrier, installing sections of roadside barrier, providing a wider road shoulder and installing vehicle activated signs.”
Work is planned from Cordeaux Dam Road for about 2km east, linking to a new section of median barrier installed on Picton Road last year.
As part of this work, about 3.7km of fauna fencing will also be installed to help reduce the risk of vehicle strikes.
Read ATN’s head-on crash avoidance report that featured Picton Road, here
Night is to take place between 7pm and 5am from Monday May 18 until Thursday May 21 and work will then be carried out between 7am and 6pm weekdays from Monday May 25, weather permitting.
Work is expected to be completed by late November, again weather permitting.
A 60 km/h speed limit will be in place during work hours and an 80 km/h speed limit will be in place outside of work hours.
The road will be reduced to one lane in each direction and concrete barriers will be installed along the westbound lane for the duration of the project.
Motorists should be aware of reduced road shoulders when travelling through the project area.
There may be intermittent delays to allow access for construction vehicles and wide loads through the site, and motorists should allow up to five minutes additional travel time during work hours.
Electronic message boards will display information in advance of the work site in both directions, including contact details of project traffic controllers for operators of heavy vehicles wider than four metres which will need to be escorted through the site.
“Heavy vehicle operators are reminded vehicles over 15 metres in length or 12 tonnes in weight are not permitted on Wilton Road at Broughton Pass,” TfNSW says.
“Transport for NSW expects to carry out further night work during later stages of this project and will update motorists in advance.
“As part of this package, safety improvements including line marking to create a wider centre median will also be investigated on Picton Road near Wilton between Macarthur Drive and Almond Street.
“A further project is also being investigated to provide a widened centre median on Picton Road between the M1 Princes Motorway and Mount Keira Road. Funding for this project is for development and investigations only.”