The NSW government has reinstated funding for the Mona Vale West upgrade, matching the $250M federal commitment. It means a half billion dollar commitment and an irrefutable “it’s on” for the long-awaited expansion of the traffic bottleneck.
With NSW Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison praising Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby for her advocacy on the issue, it’s a big win for the Independent who saw this as her key election promise.
Mona Vale Road is one of the most critical arterial roads serving the Northern Beaches area, connecting the Peninsula to the Northern Suburbs. It is a long-standing traffic pinch point.
Funding of about $300 million was locked in by the previous Liberal Government but it was tools down an a deferral when Labor took the lead.
The NSW State Budget commits $250 million for the project, matching an Australian Government commitment of $250 million on 22 March by the Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Catherine King.
Completion is not expected until 2030.
The project involves upgrading 3.4 kilometres of Mona Vale Road from two lanes to four lanes between McCarrs Creek Road, Terrey Hills and Powder Works Road, Ingleside.
Key features of the Mona Vale Road West upgrade include:
- A new traffic signal intersection with Kimbriki Road, including additional dedicated turning lanes and a truck climbing lane
- Relocating the intersection with Tumburra Street to the west by about 40 metres and changing access to left turn in and left turn out only
- Closing the existing intersection with Addison Road to general traffic and restricting access to emergency vehicles only
- Constructing a new local road connection between Bungendore Street and Powder Works Road, using the existing Harvey Road corridor, and extending the new local road east of Addison Road to meet the intersection of Mona Vale Road and Powder Works Road
- Removing bus stops near Tumburra Street and re-directing bus services along the new local road connection and Tumburra Street to serve existing and future land uses
Other features to encourage pedestrians and cyclists include a shared use path on the northern side of Mona Vale Road between McCarrs Creek Road and Addison Road and upgraded street lighting and landscaping for the full length of the project.
To protect local wildlife, there will be a 40-metre fauna bridge over Mona Vale Road and two fauna underpasses.
When will the Mona Vale Road West upgrade get done?
Ms Scruby said she would now turn her focus to delivery: “This 4-lane road was promised by then Premier and Member for Pittwater Robert Askin in 1966 and I’m determined to make sure it’s delivered. I’ll be holding the government to account to make sure this funding turns into real progress on the ground – people want to see action.
While the design and acquisition work will start in the next year, construction is expected closer to 2028 and completion in 2030.
“There is a common myth that the MV West Upgrade was ‘shovel ready’ or half built. It’s not. There are approvals and pre-construction work that will take time, but people can trust I’ll continue my lobbying to keep things on track.
“Finishing it is not just about convenience – it’s about safety, resilience and connectivity,” she said.
The Roads Minister concluded in a press statement: “The most important thing this announcement delivers in the certainty for the project to proceed. Transport for NSW will now be able to move ahead with critical planning work along this important corridor that has significant biodiversity, terrain and technical challenges to be addressed.”
