MEDIA RELEASE 14.04.19 - CHAMBER CALLS FOR RAWSON ROAD RAIL CROSSING UPGRADE

MEDIA RELEASE 14.04.19 - CHAMBER CALLS FOR RAWSON ROAD RAIL CROSSING UPGRADE

The Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has today called on the NSW State Government and Central Coast Council to collaborate on alternative solutions to the long running debate over the Rawson Road rail crossing at Woy Woy.

“Decisions over the replacement of the existing rail crossing have been dragging on for too long”, said Peninsula Chamber President Matthew Wales.

“Clearly both the NSW State Government and the local Council have put the project in the too hard basket and the community gets stuck with an ever increasing safety problem that is only going to get worse”.

“It is also patently clear that the rail overpass at the base of Bulls Hill is far too expensive and will never meet the cost/benefit thresholds with a projected cost of $120M”, said Matthew Wales.

“In the meantime, the existing intersection at the Rawson Road rail crossing is becoming more congested and an increasing safety risk”.

“The Chamber wants the NSW State Government to consider installing traffic lights on the Railway Street and Rawson Road legs of the intersection with traffic lights on the western side of the rail crossing”, said Matthew Wales.

“The existing rail crossing warning lights and boom gates should be retained as part of major synchronised upgrade of the intersection”.

“These improvements would improve traffic flow and safety both during normal traffic conditions and when the rail crossing is in operation”, said Matthew Wales.

“At the moment, navigating the intersection even when the rail crossing is not operating is becoming increasingly dangerous and is compounded during peak periods”.

“We have to start putting in place a more feasible financial solution to the rail crossing replacement without  $120M price tag”, said Matthew Wales.

Rawson Road Crossing Update - Click on Photo for full document