Warringah Freeway Pedestrian Crossing

Mrs JILLIAN SKINNER (North Shore) [5.15 p.m.]: Pedestrian access and ease of movement around the electorate of North Shore is an issue that always exercises my mind and causes a great deal of discussion and grief in the local area. Because of the busy nature of our roads, particularly the main roads, there are far too many pedestrian accidents, serious injuries and, unfortunately, fatalities. That is about to become a lot worse. I draw attention to what is happening in relation to the Warringah Expressway, which is a major barrier to pedestrian movement in the electorate of North Shore. One of the few pedestrian crossings over the expressway is at Military Road-Falcon Street. Hundreds of residents living on either side of the expressway walk across the footpath of Military Road-Falcon Street to access facilities on either side. For example, shops and major public transport stops are primarily on one side, schools are on both sides, and parks, the library and the much-used police citizens youth club [PCYC] is on the other. It is not unusual to see groups of schoolchildren, particularly younger school students, walking crocodile fashion across the footpath with their teachers to access the PCYC.

That is about to become much worse because of the construction of on-off ramps for the Lane Cove tunnel. Anyone who has exited Warringah Expressway at the Military Road exit will have seen the substantial work that is going on at the moment. As I understand it, the changes will mean that the north-south crossing and the bus stop outside the Caltex station have been moved west towards the expressway but the pedestrian crossing has moved east, more than 200 metres away, making the large residential community walk an extra 400 metres down Merlin Street South. This includes older people, people with prams, and so on. On the east-west crossing, the current continuous footpath on the north side, used by many schoolchildren as well as residents, will become three crossings. Although details are still skimpy, there is talk of a zebra crossing, a signalled crossing or a combination.

Concerns have been raised about groups of pedestrians, particularly young children, who cross to access the PCYC and other community, leisure and sporting facilities, being marooned between crossings on a tiny island. This will also be a problem for residents who take time to cross—those in wheelchairs, those using walking frames and young mums with prams and strollers. So the widening of the road will mean pedestrians now have to cross four lanes of speeding traffic instead of three. There is the possibility of lights across the entrance and exit ramps of a major freeway. This is extraordinary in a densely populated part of Sydney where there is heavy pedestrian access. Earlier this year my friend and colleague the honourable member for Willoughby and I met with Mr Bill Orme, a local resident who, along with others, has taken a particular interest in this and has been working as a member of the pedestrian access committee on North Sydney council to try to raise these issues.

I have had representation on that committee. I am concerned that the options are still being discussed as the work proceeds. The options include an underpass to be built under Falcon Street to allow safe crossing and an east-west pedestrian overpass from Wyagdon Street to St Leonards Park. There are other alternatives for overpasses towards the North Sydney end. The options need to be considered and a decision made now. I watch work proceed with a sinking feeling. When will others realise it will be impossible for pedestrians to cross the expressway?