The NSW government has promised two traffic studies to fix major bottlenecks at Springwood and Katoomba.
Member for Blue Mountains Roza Sage said a detailed study will look at Katoomba’s main entry way, including the widening of Yeaman Bridge, while another study will investigate easing congestion at Hawkesbury and Macquarie Roads, Springwood.
Katoomba Chamber of Commerce and Community president Mark Jarvis welcomed the Upper Mountains announcement.
“KCCC is hopeful the study will potentially help relieve the parking problems at the top end of Katoomba as well as address gridlock currently in the Yeaman Bridge area,” he said.
In Springwood, Mrs Sage said there is “significant traffic congestion” along Hawkesbury and Macquarie Roads during peak periods, particularly at the two roundabouts when crossing over the Great Western Highway.
The government has recently come under fire for exacerbating this problem by closing the right-hand highway turn from Macquarie Road, sending more traffic onto the two Hawkesbury Road roundabouts to access the highway.
“It is incredible that only now, after going against many residents’ wishes and permanently closing the right hand turn onto the Great Western Highway at Springwood, Mrs Sage thinks there might be a problem,” said Labor candidate for Blue Mountains, Trish Doyle.
“Mrs Sage has had four years to show an interest in the ever increasing traffic congestion into and out of our two biggest towns and yet again is waiting until the last possible moment to try and pretend that she cares,” she said.