The Road Hierarchy Explained
A road hierarchy has been developed to adequately service the traffic generation potential of the precinct. The road classifications can range from local access streets, major and minor collector roads, arterials and sub-arterials.
All roads below the level of sub-arterial are usually provided by the developer as part of their subdivision or development consent. The higher order roads, usually sub-arterial up, are included in a Developer Contributions Plan where Council collects contributions from the developer and Council constructs the road.
A residential development area the size of North Kellyville should have a single sub-arterial route to accommodate regional traffic, and Hezlett Road together with Withers Road fulfills this function. There are no arterial (Transport for NSW) routes in North Kellyville.
Street Naming
Street naming for all proposed streets identified within the North Kellyville Release Area have been reviewed and approved by The Hills Shire Council and the Geographical Names Board.
View the North Kellyville Release Road Naming Map (Aug 2014)(PDF, 522KB)
Planned Major Road Work
Traffic projects are quite complex, with several layers of dependencies. Council is working through them progressively. Council acknowledges that the works will take some time and will be an inconvenience while under construction for residents and commuters through that area. Your patience and understanding is appreciated.
Withers Road Upgrade
The four-lane upgrade of Withers Road will be the next stage of construction. It will stretch from Massie Street to Ironbark Ridge Road.
When will it begin?
The upgrade will not begin until the intersection works in the town centre are well underway. This is because Council will need to:
- manage the flow of traffic around the shopping precinct
- maintain access for residents travelling to and from work
- maintain access to local schools
What permissions are still required?
Council is seeking approval from utilities such as Sydney Water, Endeavour Energy, Jemena (gas) and Telecommunication Entities (Telstra, NBN, Optus and TPG).
Following approval Council will tender for the construction to begin within 12 months. This will depend on the acquisition of properties required for the road widening.
Securing Properties
Property acquisitions are now the key component determining the timeline. A few properties have been acquired. Property acquisitions are needed along several sections of the road.
Negotiations with the relevant owners and developers for the remaining properties are progressing.
Council hopes to avoid the need to go to compulsory acquisition.
Land Dedication
The acquisition process also requires the dedication of the land to Council as a public road. There is a process with the State Government for the registration of the various parcels of land.
What else needs to be constructed as part of the project?
There are no extra traffic signals needed for this section of Withers Road. This means approvals from Transport for NSW are not required.
The project does include:
- a larger roundabout at Mungerie Road
- a new four lane bridge across Smalls Creek
- an additional two lanes of traffic
- undergrounding electricity
- stormwater drainage
- concrete footpaths
- street lights
- landscaping
The Withers Road works, from Massie Street to Ironbark Ridge Road (and the bridge) will begin in 2025, following the completion of intersection works at North Kellyville Town Centre.
The challenges
The extent of these works will create significant difficulties during construction. This is because the road cannot be closed to through traffic. Also, night works need to be minimal due to nearby residential homes.
As a result, the project could take up to two years to complete from the award of the tender.
The relocation of public utilities, particularly telecommunication lines, will be a complex and time-consuming part of the project.
North Kellyville Town Centre Intersection Upgrades
There are two intersections at North Kellyville Town Centre that will be upgraded - Barry Road/Withers Road, and Barry Road extension through to Hezlett Road.
Both intersection designs are complete, including the traffic signal designs at each location, and they will be submitted to Transport for NSW as a single package for approval of the traffic signal designs (These designs have already been submitted to Transport for NSW in the past eighteen months, but Council has received a series of questions and comments from Transport for NSW that must be addressed before the project proceeds). This happens with all traffic signal designs in Sydney, especially those that are on local roads under the control of Local Government.
Council does not expect any further amendments to this package, and the internal approval process by Transport for NSW is generally around three months. This internal process includes payment of fees and the appointment of a Transport Coordinator for supervision of the works.
Council will then work with this Transport Coordinator during the tender and construction process to get both sets of signals built and switched on as quickly as possible.
It must be noted that the intersections will require relocation of public utilities, and this component will dictate the speed of the project. Utility adjustments include power, water supply, recycled water supply, sewer, Telstra and other communications cabling, plus gas mains.
Such relocation is a complex process as many of these works cannot be done concurrently, and will rely on one utility provider completing their work, before the next moves in for their part of the job. Final sign-off is pending from Sydney Water and Telstra. There are no further design amendments required as a result of those two utility 'sign–offs'.
The project is expected to commence in June 2024 and is anticipated to take 12 months to complete, weather permitting.
Read more about this upgrade here.
Hezlett Road Upgrade
The upgrade of Hezlett Road to two lanes in each direction was completed in February 2022. The project has also allowed for the kerbside lanes of Hezlett Road to be clearways during the peak hour and available for parking during off peak hours.
Foxall Road
Foxall Road is a major collector road with developers responsible for half width road construction fronting their development. Being a developer constructed route and not a council constructed road, it is not listed in the Contributions Plan and therefore it is not in Council’s capital works program.
Commercial Road Upgrade
Commercial Road is a designated sub-arterial route that provides important access to the regional shopping centre at Rouse Hill, as well as access to the regional recreational facilities east of the shopping centre.
The upgrade of this road to four lanes, between the shopping centre and Withers Road, is not funded in a Council Contribution Plan (CP), however the State Government has placed the route in the draft Special Infrastructure Contribution Levy - the State Government has not indicated when the necessary funds will be made available for the upgrade however preliminary designs have been prepared by Council should they become available.
Glenhaven Road Upgrade
The upgrade of Glenhaven Road, from the Samantha Riley Drive roundabout to the bridge over Cattai Creek, is a part of CP 13 for North Kellyville.
This year Council will commission design consultants in to finalise the plans in preparation for tendering the work for construction in the next five years.
The remaining section of the road, from the bridge heading east to Old Northern Road, will predominantly remain as it is following regional traffic modelling indicating that four lanes of traffic will not be required in the immediate future.
Council will also be upgrading the existing pedestrian crossing at Glenhaven School from a raised “wombat” facility to a signalised crossing later in 2022.
Ross Place/Edwards Road Bridge
A planned northern bridge connection from Ross Place to Annangrove Road (via Edwards Road) will be built to support both local traffic and public transport.
As a result, the connection between Ross Place and Annangrove Road is also identified to be upgraded to two lanes and will feature a heavy vehicle weight limit to reduce the amount of through traffic and heavy goods vehicles generated by the Annangrove Road Light Industrial Precinct and Box Hill Industrial and Residential Precincts.
The need to provide the bridge connection from Edwards Road to Ross Place is established by the North Kellyville Contributions Plan No.13. As this route is expected to support future residents in Box Hill, the North Kellyville Transport and Traffic Assessment report identifies the need to construct the link to a collector road standard. The bridge connection to the North Kellyville Precinct will support improved access to the Box Hill Industrial (weight limited) and Box Hill Residential Precincts.
Council is currently working with NSW Environment, Energy and Science (ESS), as well as NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) in determining the most optimal route for the bridge alignment.
Planned Traffic Signals and Roundabouts
Traffic signals are planned or underway at Samantha Riley Drive and Hezlett Road, Hezlett Road and Gum Nut Close, Withers Road and Barry Road (the local Shopping Centre Perimeter Road) and at the Withers Road and Hezlett Road intersection (the local Shopping Centre Perimeter Road). Pedestrian signals will also be installed in front of North Kellyville Primary School.
A one-lane roundabout is planned for the intersection of Barry Road, Stringer Road and Hillview Place providing access to the Stringer Road Sportsgrounds and another at the end of Withers Road, intersecting with Fulton Place and Foxall Road.
Two lane roundabouts are planned at Samantha Riley Drive and Foxall Road and at Hezlett Road and Curtis Road.
Pedestrian Paths, Cycleways and Connecting Bridges
Footpaths and cycle paths are proposed along sub-arterial roads and collector roads connecting major land uses within the precinct including the town centre, neighbourhood centres, schools, parks and sports fields.
Proposed cycle paths on Hezlett Road and Withers Road will improve the conditions of the regional cycle route extending the Regional Green Link from Kellyville to North Kellyville and Rouse Hill.
The majority of cycleway routes within the North Kellyville Precinct will be provided by developers as required by the North Kellyville Development Control Plan, however the Contributions Plan provides for cycleways and crossings where they adjoin land reserved for a public purpose.
Three cycle connections along Smalls Creek are proposed to provide pedestrian and cycle linkages between the precinct and the neighbouring built-up residential areas and the Rouse Hill Town Centre.
Three crossing points are proposed along Samantha Riley Drive including the signalised intersection at Hezlett Road and proposed footbridges connecting the Kellyville Greenway Link with the ridge top recreational cycle path within Samantha Riley Drive Reserve with the Glenhaven Road Bridge.
Bus Routes
An important objective in the development of the North Kellyville Precinct is to reduce car dependency through the provision of an efficient public transport system and pedestrian movement network.
The public transport network in the North Kellyville Precinct operates on the sub-arterial corridor of Samantha Riley Drive, Hezlett Road and Withers Road.
A second route is also likely to operate on the collector road route of Foxall Road, Barry Road and Stringer Road to Annangrove Road. To support this network, nine bus stops have been located within reasonable walking distance of locations convenient to residents and future employees.