• Preliminary electrical works contract: Ausconnex October 2019 (ongoing)
• Main contract award: Expected first half of 2020
• Start date of main construction: Late 2020, weather permitting
• Project cost: Will be available once the contract is awarded.

The key benefits to the community include:

• Increasing road capacity to cater for traffic growth
• Improving safety for motorists through the installation of traffic lights and a central median to separate traffic travelling in opposing directions
• Improving safety for cyclists and pedestrians by providing off-road shared paths
• Improving travel times between Blacktown and Castle Hill
• Improving access and travel times for road freight
• Improving bus accessibility at traffic lights
• Improved street lighting and landscaping
• Facilitating the development of the Balmoral Road release area precinct.

• Upgrading Memorial Avenue from a two lane to a four lane divided road with a central median
• Introducing a speed limit of 80km/h
• Providing a wide central median to allow for future widening to six lanes, when required in the future
• Providing landscaping in the median
• Constructing pedestrian/cyclist path on both sides of Memorial Avenue
• Installing bus priority capability at traffic lights and indented bus bays at Arnold Avenue and Severn Vale Drive intersections
• Providing designated turning lanes and bicycle lanes at intersections with traffic lights.

The Review of Environmental Factors for this proposal was displayed for community comment in November and December 2014 at The Hills Shire Council and Castle Hill Library. Transport for NSW also hosted two community information sessions in November 2014. We would like to thank everyone who took the time to review the documents and provide feedback.

We received 44 submissions and overall there was general support for the upgrade. Community feedback included comments on traffic congestion, local traffic access and public transport in the area. Comments on environmental factors included noise and the relevant mitigation measures. We have considered the community’s feedback, prepared a Submissions Report in response to the feedback and obtained planning approval for the project.

Please view or download the Submissions Report (PDF, 5.41Mb).

Transport for NSW has completed the design process and is currently in the final phase of the procurement process to award the contract.

The property acquisition area has been finalised and property letters regarding any adjustment works are being been sent to those affected private owners, who are located in the proposed upgrade area.

Our contractor Ausconnex is currently working in the area to relocate the existing overhead electrical cabling underground, prior to the main construction work on the upgrade.

Over the coming months private property owners in the area will receive letters regarding noise assessment and treatment works relating to the upgrade.

We will continue to work with individual property owners and keep the community informed on the progress of the project.