The Bangor Bypass is being delivered in two stages.
Stage 1 was opened to traffic on 7 February 2005 and provides a four-lane, divided road between Woronora Bridge and Alfords Point Road, bypassing Menai Road.
Stage 1 was fully funded by the State Government and cost approximately $95 million.
The Bangor Bypass stage 1 provides:
Shorter travel times between Sutherland and Bankstown.
Improved air quality and less traffic noise for many local residents.
Improved safety for all road users.
Improved access to Menai Town Centre, local schools and residences.
The speed limit on the Bangor Bypass was reviewed in December 2005 and is now sign posted at 80km/h.
Menai Road is now a local road with a 4.5 tonne load limit between Yala Road and Akuna Avenue.
Old Illawarra Road is now a local road between Menai Road and Marsden Road with a 4.5 tonne load limit between Barry Road and Marsden Road and a 3.3 metre height restriction under the Bangor Bypass (east-west link).
Noise assessment - Stage 1
Stage 1 of the Bangor Bypass project was completed and opened to traffic in February 2005. A number of measures were provided to reduce the impact of traffic noise including:
Changes to the vertical and horizontal alignments of the Bypass.
The use of a quieter road surface material.
The construction of noise barriers along the Bangor Bypass road corridor.
The RTA is required under the project conditions of approval to monitor and assess operational traffic noise after opening the project to traffic and to install all reasonable and feasible noise mitigation measures.
This assessment has been completed and a report called Bangor Bypass Operational Noise Evaluation is available below (as a PDF file) and at Menai Library.
The assessment identified homes that qualify for additional treatment. The aim of this treatment is to compensate for the effect of closing windows to reduce the impact of traffic noise in homes.
A noise mitigation specialist was engaged by the RTA to make arrangements to visit identified properties and assess the scope of work for each eligible room.
History of the Project
An Overview Report released in December 2001 outlined the proposal and community comments. Building on this process, a full environmental assessment of the Bangor Bypass proposal was undertaken. The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and the Species Impact Statement (SIS) were exhibited from February to April 2002.
Major improvements were made to the design of the bypass following community comment on the EIS and SIS. The Representations Report was publicly exhibited from 22 July to 9 August 2002. It included the Preferred Activity Report, which outlined the proposed modifications including changes to the alignment of the bypass to move it away from homes as well as to preserve local access.
The Minister for Planning approved the modified proposal subject to 113 conditions in November 2002. The RTA commenced preliminary work in January 2003. In February 2003 Abigroup were awarded the contract for major work.
The east-west link, now called Bangor Bypass, and the northern section of the north-south link, now called New Illawarra Road was opened to traffic on 7 February 2005.
Stage 2 will provide a 1.2 kilometre road linking New Illawarra Road in the south with Bangor Bypass (or east-west link) and Alfords Point Road in the north. Design options for stage 2 have been decided. Tenders will be called in late 2008 and construction will commence in mid 2009.
Community liaison information
Keeping communities informed
The RTA kept the community informed through a community liaison group, ongoing advertising of construction activities and the project website.
Community liaison group - Stage 1
In 2002 the local community formed two community liaison groups one for the east-west link and one for the north-south link.
The role of these groups was to discuss project construction issues and methods for minimising impacts on the local community during construction.
In 2003 a review of these groups was undertaken and approval sought from the Department of Planning to merge the two groups. Approval was granted and the first combined meeting took place in February 2004.
The final community liaison group meeting was held in December 2006.
Notes of the community liaison group meetings are available on the links below.
Independent community liaison representative
An independent community liaison representative was appointed by the Department of Planning for this project as the community’s independent representative to draw attention to unheeded community issues to the RTA or contractors.
The independent community liaison representative helped to mediate issues between residents and the RTA that were unsuccessful through previous efforts.
The independent community liaison representative reported to The Department of Planning monthly on community issues and the RTA’s performance in relation to those issues.
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