The FINANCIAL — Sydney Airport on December 16 opened Stage 1 of its T2/T3 ground access solutions as an improved one-way road network and new, dedicated five-lane exit became operational.
From today, the main vehicular entrance to the T2/T3 Domestic precinct at Sir Reginald Ansett Drive will be one way inbound, while exiting vehicles will use the new one-way exit road and new intersection with Qantas Drive and Robey Street.
These improvements are designed to deliver smoother traffic flows to make it easier for airline passengers, airport workers and other airport visitors to travel to and from the airport by car or public transport, according to Sydney Airport.
Sydney Airport Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Kerrie Mather said the upgraded road network would create an improved experience for all road users visiting Sydney Airport.
“The opening of Stage 1 today is an important milestone in our T2/T3 ground access solutions initiative,” Ms Mather said.
“It’s our priority to make it easier for passengers, visitors and staff to travel to and from Sydney Airport by car, taxi or public transport.
“This better performing one-way road network at T2/T3 will ease traffic flows and provide more ‘green light’ time for motorists at key intersections.”
From today, all vehicles will travel around the one-way ‘horseshoe’ at T2/T3 and exit via the new dedicated Seventh Street exit for access to T1, the city and all other destinations.
The right hand turn from Sir Reginald Ansett Drive into Ross Smith Ave within the precinct will be closed. Vehicles wishing to access Ross Smith Ave and the South East Sector of the airport will use the new one-way exit, turn right onto Qantas Drive, then right again to re-enter the precinct and turn left onto Ross Smith Avenue.
Public pick-up and drop-off areas at T2/T3 are unaffected by the changes, while taxi and hire car ranks, and bus and coach stopping zones also remain unchanged.
Sydney Airport today advised all motorists travelling to and from T2/T3 from today to observe new road signage and to drive carefully, and asked for their patience and cooperation as the new road network becomes fully operational.
Sydney Airport also reminded all airport visitors, and particularly motorists, to leave plenty of time for their journey as the Christmas holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year on the roads.
Following the opening today of Stage 1 of the T2/T3 ground access solutions, future projects within the precinct include better facilities for public transport and taxis with a new purpose-built Ground Transport Interchange, and improved access and facilities for pedestrians and cyclists to encourage active transport. The works will be staged to minimise disruption and are expected to continue until 2018.
Sydney Airport and the NSW Government have jointly committed $500 million to cut travel times and improve ease of access to the airport.
The NSW Government’s $282 million of improvements on key roads that support Sydney Airport include widening Marsh Street from two to three lanes in each direction, opening up the direct access road to the T1 precinct.
Other planned upgrade works announced by the government include the extension of Wentworth Avenue under the rail line, increasing road lane capacity on Joyce Drive between O’Riordan Street and Mill Pond Road, and reconfiguring Robey Street and O’Riordan Street (south) as a one-way pair.
“Sydney Airport’s extensive improvement program, combined with the NSW Government’s planned works, will deliver increased ground access capacity to cater for forecast growth in passenger numbers and peak passenger demand,” Ms Mather said.
The opening today of the new T2/T3 road network forms part of Sydney Airport’s T2/T3 Ground Access Solutions and Hotel Major Development Plan (MDP) which received approval from the Federal Government in March 2015 after extensive consultation and engagement with airport stakeholders, the community, Members of Parliament and local councils.
Work on the MDP complements continuing road network improvements at T1, the first stage of which opened late last year.
Sydney Airport will continue to provide regular updates on the works to the public via its signage, website and social media channels.
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