Population growth is putting the Raby Road and Hume Motorway junction under a lot of strain.
But in another five years it will be much worse unless something is done, says Campbelltown MP Greg Warren.
He is calling on the state government to start the planning for the upgrade of this critical road infrastructure to avoid a repeat of the Narellan Road traffic mess over many years.
Mr Warren says the rapidly expanding population of Camden – particularly in Gregory Hills, Oran Park, Gledswood Hills and Emerald Hills – is fuelling a big increase of cars funnelled onto Raby Road to access the Hume Motorway.
The opening of Gregory Hills Drive coupled with the expansion of Eagle Vale Drive has also resulted in an increase in motorists entering the Hume Motorway via Raby Road.
There are some plans to upgrade the western end of Raby Road, however, Mr Warren says the upgrades needed to continue all the way through to the Hume Motorway – a junction that only has one exit and entry onto Raby Road.
However, that south facing exit ramp can only be accessed by motorists travelling on Campbelltown Road.
Motorists heading southbound along the Hume Motorway cannot exit onto Raby Road and are instead forced to exit further south onto Campbelltown Road or further north on Williamson Road in Ingleburn, causing further congestion to the north of the region.
Motorists wanting to enter the Hume Motorway and head south have to use the entry off Campbelltown Road near Ingleburn, or Narellan Road.
“The Raby Road-Hume Motorway junction is already struggling to deal with the increase in traffic and must be given the priority attention it demands to ensure the short-sighted mistakes of the past are not repeated,’’ says Mr Warren.
“In around five years’ time, the junction will be highly unlikely to cope under the projected population figures”.
“The Narellan Road upgrades took many frustrating years to be complete – that is why planning for upgrades at the Raby Road and Hume Motorway junction needs to occur now.
“We need to think about getting people to and from their destinations as quickly as possible in order to unclog our roads.
“This cannot and will not happen unless the Raby Road-Hume Motorway junction is upgraded.
“I have expressed my concerns and the concerns of many motorists to the Minister for Transport and Roads let’s hope he listens and acts.”
This including many other major roads in the region need forward thinking and attention. With population growth as it is currently I have seen a noticeable increase in traffic every month after having lived on Raby road for the last two years, and having grown up in the area over the last 30 years. I think local politicians and developers are pulling the wool over their eyes and are more concerned about pumping sales of land rather than infrastructure management and development.
Only way around it is to relocate interstate where the houses are cheaper and there is less growing pains on infrastructure, or for residents that are buying up in these areas to lobby and pressure local MPs. Or even better push for decentralisation … I guess it’s all in the too hard basket for the people calling the shots.. This is Australia … “She’ll be alright mate”.
If infrastructure is struggling now, we have no hope of it adjusting to growth let alone improving. We need a drastic change in political decision making and people who can implement forward vision.