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No 52, May 2007
Editor: Jennifer Gilmore
Production: Keith Griffin
The views expressed in Chain Mail articles are those of the authors only and do not necessarily represent either the common views shared by a majority of Bike North members, or Bike North policy as formulated by the Bike North Executive Committee.
M2 Update – Easter 2007
Three months in…
The deadline passed and cyclists were dumped off the M2 Westbound between Lane Cove Road, Macquarie Park and Beecroft Road, Epping onto a very inferior detour route. The imperative was to push cyclists off rather than to complete the agreed works to a safe alternative. Bike North attempted to argue for delays which was the only way that the upgrades would happen but this was not to be. The Lane Cove Tunnel opening beckoned the politicians and business alike.
Stage 1 works, which basically consisted of paint on the road, signage and a speed limit change were 90% done with a few items to clean up. Bike North undertook an audit on Friday 30 March which will result in a report for compliance. A further audit will be held at two months into the project.
Detour signs mark the route. Bike North asked for distance indicators at critical points.
Stage 2 works, which were funded by the RTA, contrary to the Deed of Agreement, are in the planning stages and we expect both delays and recanting in this process. Already the RTA has retreated from the building of off road facilities on Talavera Road and Culloden Road in Macquarie Park. Although the RTA has offered $500,000, this nice round figure was plucked from the air and probably will not cover the works that will be required. The RTA is in the process of determining what can be completed and "their" priorities for the work. Included will be an upgrade to the Pembroke Road to Pembroke St link either side of the stage 3 bridge and upgrades to the intersection of Pembroke St and Epping Roads at Epping although this work is likely to be less than planned due to the presence of in-ground services at that point.
Stage 3 works, consist of the Terrys Creek Bridge and the RTA seems committed to undertaking this. Surveyors have been seen on-site. It is likely that the time frame for this work will be two years at least.
Stage 4 works, will be the re-integration of cyclists back on to a re-engineered and widened M2 shoulder. Although there has been verbal commitment to this outcome we have seen nothing more. The time frame is said to be 3 to 5 years, although some cycling advocates are saying they will be surprised to see an outcome in their cycling lifetimes.
A few members of Bike North have made an extraordinary effort on this project over three months and the outcome was the marked detour route. Although woefully inferior to the M2 it is vastly more than what was proposed by the multi-national Transurban who explicity stated in the REF that no upgrades would be needed. That the RTA has "found" over $1.5m is an interesting insight into the political nature of cycle funding and indicates that the important decisions to influence are the ones in "head office". The extra funding into the detour route will equal 30 years funding at the "usual" rate $50,000 per year. This shows the woeful levels of funding in NSW and highlights how much money is needed to make even minor upgrades to infrastructure.