On Sunday December 21 2025 Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby announced Transport for NSW has agreed to review its proposed upgrade of the Elanora Road intersection on Wakehurst Parkway following strong community warnings that it could lead to serious injuries or deaths.
''The review is necessary, despite the project being in the late stages of planning and with final designs already drafted. It follows sustained pressure from locals, the Elanora Heights Residents Association, and direct intervention from Jacqui Scruby MP - including formal representations to the Minister for Roads and a Question on Notice (QON 104213) demanding answers on how safety risks would be addressed.'' Ms Scruby announced
“This is a major shift. TfNSW does not ordinarily reopen designs at this stage, so I am grateful to TfNSW and the Minister for Roads for listening to my representations and the community. I respect the road engineers and TfNSW, and wouldn’t ordinarily challenge expert decisions, but anyone driving this intersection can see that the risk of accident may increase by running a two-way gauntlet. It’s great TfNSW is taking a common sense approach and reviewing the designs,” Ms Scruby said.
Residents have repeatedly warned that the current design fails basic safety expectations and risks making a dangerous intersection even more hazardous. Ms Scruby has called for the ‘seagull lane’ to be widened and properly engineered, saying it is the safest option from both expert and community perspectives.
“At this stage it’s only a review so I do want to manage community expectations. If an alternative is proposed it’s realistic to assume that there may be some cost implications or other road changes we need to adjust to as a compromise, but road safety needs to be the highest priority,” Ms Scruby said.
Ms Scruby noted that this would not delay the commencement of the Wakehurst Parkway upgrades or other sections of the road.
In January 2025 Dick Clarke, coordinator of the Elanora Heights Residents Association, expressed concerns about the proposed upgrade at the Elanora Rd / Parkway intersection, which removes the shelter lane in the centre for turning right/south, replaced with a concrete barrier.
"This clearly and obviously makes it dramatically less safe. The proper solution is a fully formed shelter lane." Mr Clarke said then
On Monday 26 May the project team held a pop-up session at Bilarong community hall, to answer questions and concerns regarding the approved design at Elanora Road.
On May 28 the Elanora Heights Residents Association shared the following:
Design failure 1 – Elanora Road intersection
TfNSW’s proposed works design problems:
- Removal of existing small ‘seagull’ acceleration-merging lane will force right turning cars to cross two lanes of traffic in opposite directions at travelling at 70-kmh;
- Will make current long wait times worse;
- Will encourage greater risk-taking as frustration builds;
- Will therefore result in more accidents, potentially fatal;
- Option of building a ‘compliant’ ‘seagull’ acceleration-merging lane was passed over because it would need to be 450m long – a budget issue.
EHRA’s proposed improved design solution:
- Formalise a new longer ‘seagull’ acceleration-merging lane;
- Does not need to be 450m long as normal ‘compliant’ seagull lane because heavy vehicles do not use Elanora Rd, it has a 6.0m length + 3.0t GVM limit (hairpin bends),
- Light vehicles can accelerate in 100~200m distance,
- It is noted that the Sydney Academy of Sport’s main entrance onto the Parkway has had a very short ‘seagull’ lane installed by TfNSW in recent years – this is an obvious precedent;
- Safety can be further improved by reducing speed limit to 60kmh there,
- Added benefit of making egress from Billarong Reserve safer;
Widening to accommodate this extended land can be done on the uphill (northern) side of Parkway (currently a ditch with poor vegetation), eliminating impact on foreshore ecological community
Design failure 2 – Floodproofing and wildlife protection
TfNSW’s proposed works design problems:
- Traffic flow improvements at Oxford Falls propose to reduce flooding impacts,
- This section is not where the major flooding occurs,
- Is a partial band-aid solution at best;
- Does not address major flooding;
- Does not address wildlife protection,
- Current chainwire fencing has had some effect but roadkill still occurs there,
- The fence separates the ecological communities.
EHRA’s proposed improved solution:
- Raise the whole roadway from south of the upper Middle Creek bridge to the intersection with the Sydney Academy of Sport;
- Using precast hollow box sections bearing on the existing road substrate where suitable, or bored piers where needed, that allow both floodwater and wildlife to move freely below road level;
- This would allow half the road to remain open in a contra-flow arrangement (AM and PM peaks) during the works, albeit at a reduced speed limit;
- Indicative concept sketch below:
See previous June 2025 report: NSW Budget 2025-26: Pittwater Allocations
Jacqui Scruby MP calls for biggest upgrade to our roads in decades to include Mona Vale Road
On the same day, Independent Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby renewed her calls for urgent resurfacing work on Mona Vale Road West, prior to works being commenced.
“This stretch has potholes that continue to bust tyres, and drivers risk head on collisions as people cross double lines. A completed Mona Vale Road West upgrade is in the pipeline but, like the East project, will take years to be finished. In the meantime we need the potholes addressed.”
“Everyone who drives it every day knows that it’s rough, it’s unsafe, and the whole community is understandably frustrated,” Ms Scruby said.
“I have made repeated representations to the NSW Government about the dangerous state of the current road. Some repairs have been completed but significant sections still require urgent repair.”
Ms Scruby notes that her advocacy to the Minister for Roads has already been effective in upgrading roads across Pittwater, including Bilgola Bends and Narrabeen, but wants it to continue.
After calling on the Government to increase funding for road upgrades in the Sydney Metropolitan area following the unprecedented rains in August, she welcomed the announcement of an additional $200m for pothole fixes. She’s calling for Pittwater’s fair share of the funding to be spent on Mona Vale Road, and remaining stretches of Pittwater Road.
“Mona Vale Road has been called out on radio as one of the worst roads in Sydney for potholes, and the Northern Beaches is recognised as one of the worst Local Government Areas (LGA) for potholes in the state by NRMA,” said Ms Scruby.
Ms Scruby thanked the NSW government for recently updating a number of roads in Pittwater and listening to her advocacy, which includes the MP personally photographing and logging potholes and the state of the roads.
“Narrabeen and Bilgola Bends, and now Warriewood, are the biggest road upgrades we’ve had in decades - but it must not stop there - Mona Vale Road and spots along Pittwater Road remain shocking.”
Ms Scruby confirmed that the State and Federal government is investing half a billion dollars to upgrade Mona Vale Road West, but said this should not stop the road being repaired in the meantime, as the completed road is years away.
“We need safe roads at all times and future major upgrades can’t be an excuse for roads to remain unsafe.”
Ms Scruby is also asking for reduced speed limit signs for road works to only be used when road works are happening, as is now required under new NSW laws.
“The government has brought these laws and now isn’t implementing them - that’s not good enough. We want road works, but if they’re not on - don’t make people drop their speed limit.”
Mona Vale Road West: $10 Million in 2025-26 NSW Budget
The Government's Budget Paper No.03 Infrastructure Statement document lists $190.0 million allocated for Mona Vale Road West - McCarrs Creek Road to Powder Works Road (NSW and Australian Government funded).
$28,306 Expended Allocation of Total Cost To 30-06-25 $000 - $10,000,000.00 Allocation in 2025-26 Budget
Planning, design and environmental assessment work is slated to take about 2½ years, allowing construction to start in 2028. The construction will take around two years. A property acquisition process is set to begin early next year, the details of which are yet to be released.
The NSW Government, in announcing the allocation, listed the works that are in the project, which shows works to ancillary roads now form part of the updated package and costings. Increases in construction costs are also ongoing in all projects across Australia - the Mona Vale East upgrade costs blew out as well, to $250 million, from the announced $140 million.
The total cost for the project, jointly funded, is stated to be $500 million.
June 2025 report: NSW Budget 2025-26: Pittwater Allocations
NSW Budget green lights congestion busting Mona Vale Road West upgrade - Scruby delivers on Election Promise: Secures Funding - Week For June 2025 reports
Scamps-Scruby-Quinn Secure $250m Funding Commitment from Federal Labor for Mona Vale Road West Upgrade - March 2025
Pittwater MP shows NSW Premier unfinished Mona Vale Road West Construction site - November 2024