This week's closure of the historic Victoria Bridge on Prince Street for upgrades by Transport for NSW has once again highlighted the urgent need for a bypass to allow traffic to flow freely through the Picton town centre.
Wollondilly Council on behalf of its residents has set up a petition with the support of State Member for Wollondilly Nathaniel Smith, calling on the NSW Government to commit to, fund and deliver a road bypass for Picton.
A bypass would address the traffic chaos which occurs on the approaches to the town whenever repairs are undertaken on Victoria Bridge or when it is closed due to accidents.
The critical need for improved emergency routes became especially clear during the 2019/20 Green Wattle Creek fire, when the towns of Bargo, Tahmoor and Thirlmere were evacuated.
With the Bargo freeway exit inaccessible due to the fires, limited access through Picton meant the traffic congestion caused by the sheer number of vehicles exiting the area became a danger for the whole community.
Council resolved to set up a petition for a Picton Bypass at its November 2020 Ordinary meeting to address this issue as well as the anticipated general increase in local traffic over the next decade.
Mayor Robert Khan explained that Council had initiated the petition to make sure the voice of the community was heard loud and clear.
"We encourage Wollondilly residents and everyone who travels through the town of Picton to add their names to the e-petition on the NSW Parliament page."
"We want to demonstrate the critical need for the bypass to be built and the more names that are added, the louder our voice will be," he said.
The petition is open on the NSW Parliament website until 18 May 2021, with Council aiming to reach 10,000 signatures. It can be accessed by heading to https://cutt.ly/CxUSrhf
