Business Illawarra, the region’s peak business organisation, has made a submission to a Transport for NSW consultation process on the Bulli bypass, saying that it welcomed progress to investigate the important project as part of a $20 million election commitment made by the state government.
Executive Director of Business Illawarra, Adam Zarth, has said that the proposed extension of Memorial Drive to provide a bypass of the Bulli town centre is long overdue and noted that five specific actions were recommended to Transport for NSW in a report released back in 2018.
“The Bulli Bypass has been talked about for some time and delayed progress on the project is hurting businesses in the northern suburbs of the Illawarra. Our 2018 road connectivity research highlighted that the Princes Highway through Bulli was already carrying close to its hourly capacity during peak hour.”
“The number of users on the road has increased in the last six years and the traffic congestion has worsened causing issues for businesses and residents in the northern suburbs as well as safety concerns given the number of heavy vehicles that use the road as the only connector to Bulli Pass.”
“It is well documented that the corridor from the end of Memorial Drive to Bulli Pass has been reserved and this land is held by Transport for NSW so it is now time to fast track work on this stretch of road.”
“Our submission is supported by robust research into road connectivity in the region we undertook with the NRMA in 2018 and it supports the extension of Memorial Drive by approximately two kilometres from it’s current interchange as well as looking at the movement of heavy vehicles and other parking and safety measures.
Business Illawarra’s recommended actions for Transport for NSW are as follows:
- Recommendation 1: Extend Memorial Drive to Bulli Pass, from its current interchange with the Princes Highway at Bulli.
- Recommendation 2: Examine the impact of heavy vehicles using Bulli Pass on road movements through Bulli and Thirroul.
- Recommendation 3: Provide a satisfactory parking solution to support local businesses if on street parking along the Princes Highway and Lawrence Hargrave Drive is impacted by measures to improvements traffic flow.
- Recommendation 4: Consider whether increased public and active transport solutions will have a measurable mitigating impact on traffic flow.
- Recommendation 5: Facilitate improved access to the region for tourist traffic and examine the effect of weekend traffic, particularly along Grand Pacific Drive and Lawrence Hargrave Drive.
To view the full submission please visit: Illawarra Advocacy Services Submissions (businessillawarra.com)