Pittwater LIfe December 2019 Issue

News
Mona Vale Road pedestrian
The plan to site a shared
pedestrian and bicycle
path immediately next
to the proposed truck arrester
bed on Mona Vale Road has
been scrapped for safety reasons,
Pittwater Life can reveal.
Instead, following intervention
by the Pedestrian Council
of Australia and ongoing
discussions between Roads
& Maritime Services and
Northern Beaches Council, the
shared path – a component of
the Mona Vale Road East upgrade
– will now be relocated.
Pittwater Life understands
the potentially dangerously
sited section of the shared
path could now push into
adjacent Crown and Council
land not previously earmarked
for the project.
Repositioning the pathway
further away from the road
would also enable the arrester
bed – a crucial safety element
of the upgrade designed to
avert disaster by capturing
any runaway vehicles – to be
lengthened even further.
A Transport for NSW
spokesperson confirmed the
truck arrester bed would be
built west of the intersection
with Ponderosa Parade and
Samuel Street.
“A shared path was proposed
to be built next to the
truck arrester bed but following
representations from
the Pedestrian Council of
Australia, Transport for NSW
has reviewed the location of
the shared path,” the spokesperson
said.
“In consultation with
Northern Beaches Council,
Transport for NSW has agreed
to move the proposed shared
path away from its original
location next to the truck arrester
bed.
“Following the relocation
of the proposed shared path,
Transport for NSW has reviewed
the original design of
the truck arrester bed and will
extend its length to maximise
use of available area. This will
enhance this important safety
feature of the project.
“Work is now being carried
EARTHWORKS STAGE:
Ground levels will drop
to meet the existing
roadway.
out to redesign the truck
arrester bed which will be
operational once the upgrade
is complete in 2022.”
Pittwater Life understands
positive and collaborative discussions
have been occurring
over recent months between
RMS and Northern Beaches
Council, with a mutual desire
to create greater distance between
the road / arrester bed
and the planned three-metrewide
shared pathway.
The new pathway will run
from Foley Street (Pittwater
RSL Club) down to Ponderosa
Parade. Then it moves to the
other side of the road (users
will cross at the new signalised
intersection) before it runs up
the hill between Samuel Street
and Lane Cove Road.
Once the upgrade is
complete, the speed limit
for heavy vehicles travelling
downhill will be 40km/h.
High visibility speed limit signage
will also be installed to
alert heavy vehicle operators.
Meanwhile, the upgrade
6 DECEMBER 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991