KIAMA MP Gareth Ward says he continues to consult with the Roads and Maritime Services [RMS] over the proposed upgrade of the Shoalhaven River bridge and surrounding intersections.
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Last week on Shoalhaven CFB on local radio Mr Ward ruled out suggestions of a flyover at the Illaroo Road intersection.
“I continue to consult with RMS,” he said “the treatment at Illaroo Road in particular needs work.”
He reiterated the point that plans released back in February were just “concept plans”, saying something also needs to happen at the Bridge Road intersection.
“They are not set in stone, they might be the preferred design but not necessarily the final design,” he said.
Four community consultation information sessions were also held to get feedback on the proposal.
“There can be improvements to the treatment of intersections,”Mr Ward said “they can be improved.
“I’m making a strong case for a dedicated left turn from Illaroo Road.”
That would see three lanes on Illaroo Road travelling east towards the highway, two to turn right heading south into Nowra and the third a dedicated left turn for those travelling north.
“We still have a long way to go,” Mr Ward said “I’m still not happy with what I’m seeing.
“I want to see them get the design right.”
He has been on the record previously saying changes were needed to the initial design concept, looking for ways to fix the congestion around Bolong, Illaroo and Bridge roads as well as Pleasant way
“I don't want to see people stopped in traffic,” Mr Ward said “these are just concept plans, a proposal.
“The design released was the preferred design but not necessarily the final design.
“I’ve worked on a number of highway projects and Gerringong and Berry are great examples where I’ve backed the community to make changes that made these projects better for local residents.”
He said he was waiting to see the submissions report into consultation issues raised by the community and responses to those issues.
“What comes after that is the review of environmental factors, at which point the community again has the chance to have another say,” he said.
He envisages that some time early next year the project could go out to tender and a start to work “could be a lot sooner than people think”.
He questioned Shoalhaven City Council’s decision along with the RMS to install new pedestrian traffic lights at the intersection of the highway and Junction Street.
An announcement which certainly raised a lot of debate within the community.
“I’ve made it clear to the RMS, the upgrade of the bridge precinct also has to take into account the impact on other intersections,” Mr Ward said.
“We need to also try and ease the traffic that does need to go through the Nowra CBD [along the highway] and what better way to do that then to build the East Nowra Sub Arterial Road (ENSAR).
“ENSAR is a local road and therefore it is up to Shoalhaven Council to construct. There is something like $24 million in state funding that is sitting there which council could apply for, which could be used for this road if wanted.
“I have never even seen a costing on the road.
“The construction of ENSAR would take traffic off the highway behind Stockland Nowra and on to Greenwell Point Road.
“That would alleviate congestion around the Kalandar Street intersection.”
That build up of congestion of southbound traffic often flows back along the highway, impacting on other intersections as well.
Mr Ward said ENSAR could eventually connect up with Old Southern Road and be continued to join Warra Warra Road and rejoin the highway at the major roundabout at that intersection.
One of the reasons, along with supposedly providing direct access to the South Coast Correctional Centre, the roundabout was constructed.
“That would virtually be an eastern bypass of Nowra,” Mr Ward said.