Safety Improvements for notorious Erina Intersection

Local drivers will soon enjoy safer and less congested journeys on the Central Coast Highway at Erina, with work underway at the Ernest Street intersection.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch said the $765,000 project was funded through the NSW Government’s Safer Roads Program.

“About 40,000 motorists travel along this section of the Central Coast Highway each day, making it one of our community’s busiest roads,” Mr Crouch said.

“Work began last night to extend the right-turn bays into Ernest Street by 20 metres, extend the right-turn bays into the Caltex Service Station commercial area by 40 metres and also carry out road resurfacing, concreting and drainage.

“A right turn phase will also be added to the traffic lights between the hours of 7am and 7pm each day so that right turn movements can be more safely managed.

“More than half of the 11 incidents recorded in the five years up to September 2019 involved motorists turning right. By making these safety improvements, we are aiming to reduce the number and severity of crashes.”

Mr Crouch said the work would help to support the Central Coast economy.

“I’m really pleased that this project will involve 35 local workers from about five local contractors and suppliers. The NSW Government is pulling every economic lever available to stimulate our local economy at this difficult time,” Mr Crouch said.

Work will be carried out between 7pm and 5am from Sunday to Thursday, and is expected to take nine weeks to complete, weather permitting.

Lane closures and a reduced speed limit will be in place during work hours for the safety of workers and road users, with motorists advised to drive to the conditions and to follow the directions of signs and traffic control.