The first leg of the Mulgoa Road upgrade is nearing completion, but the full project won’t be finalised for another 20 years.
A Transport for NSW (TfNSW) spokeswoman confirmed the upgrade between Union Road and Museum Drive including the Railway Bridge is expected to open in the coming months.
“The upgrade will open to traffic mid this year, weather permitting, and will reduce congestion and delays during morning and afternoon peaks, improve access to public transport, provide safe and effective pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure, and allow upgrades of other sections of Mulgoa Road in future,” she said.
“Remaining work involves building the medians, road pavement construction, landscaping, and completing the wearing course and associated line marking and sign posting.”
The works, which began in December 2018 and are being jointly funded by the Australian and NSW governments, involve installing an additional lane in both directions and providing a longer left turn lane along Mulgoa Road for motorists turning westbound onto the Great Western Highway.
Other improvements include upgrading the Mulgoa Road/High Street intersection and the T-intersection of Jane Street with Castlereagh Road to increase capacity, widening the rail underpass to allow three lanes in each direction, and adding bus priority at the High Street intersection.
But residents will have to wait two decades for the entire project to be complete.
“This upgrade is one section of a 6.5 kilometre upgrade of the Mulgoa Road/Castlereagh Road corridor between Glenmore Parkway, Glenmore Park and Andrews Road, Penrith,” the spokeswoman said.
“Subject to funding, the upgrade would be developed and delivered in stages over the next 20 years.”
Works will involve widening Mulgoa Road/Castlreagh Road to three lanes in each direction, upgrading intersections, adding bus priority lanes, building separated pedestrian and cyclist paths and landscaping.
“TfNSW is currently carrying out investigation work along a number of streets at Jamisontown and the M4 ramps to help inform the detailed design of a 1.18 kilometre section of Mulgoa Road between Jeanette Street and Blaikie Road,” the spokesman said.
“Funding dependent, future delivery of the Mulgoa Road/Castlereagh Road corridor will involve upgrades between Jamison Road and Union Street, Museum Drive to Coreen Avenue, Coreen Avenue to Lugard Street, and Lugard Street to Andrews Road.”
Alena Higgins
Alena Higgins is the Weekender's Senior News Reporter, primarily covering courts and Council issues.