Penrith is undergoing significant growth, with more people choosing to live, work and study in Penrith. This growth puts additional pressure on the local road network and increases the need for better transport infrastructure to accommodate current and future residents.

Dunheved Road is a busy route between Richmond Road at the western end and the Werrington Road/Christie Street roundabout at the eastern end. Stretching 4.2km, it includes many intersections which link into local suburbs, shops and services. Already an essential link for nearby residents and businesses, this road will also connect to Penrith’s growth centres and the transport network.

Council identified the need for improvements to Dunheved Road more than a decade ago due to the increasing traffic volumes and gridlock experienced by the community at various points along the road. In 2020/21, a $128 million commitment was secured by Federal Member for Lindsay Melissa McIntosh from the Australian Government’s Urban Congestion Fund (now Infrastructure Investment Program) to upgrade Dunheved Road.

Signalised intersections are being added to Tasman Street, Lavin Crescent and John Batman Avenue. Traffic lights at these intersections are considered the most appropriate traffic management device for the volume of traffic on Dunheved Road.

Signalisation of the Lavin Crescent intersection will improve safe vehicle access to businesses in Werrington County shopping village while the pedestrian crossing at the Lavin Crescent intersection enhances the safety of pedestrians accessing the facilities and services in the shopping village.

Introducing signals at the John Batman Avenue intersection with pedestrian crossings will allow safe passage of vehicles and pedestrians. It will enable the community to access Werrington County Public school by walking or bicycles, promoting sustainable transportation options and a healthy lifestyle.

The new signalised intersections at Tasman Street, Lavin Crescent and John Batman Avenue will be synched with all the existing traffic lights along Dunheved Road to ensure traffic flows smoothly and queued traffic clears after every traffic signal cycle.

The original concept design for the Trinity Drive intersection banned both right turn movements (into Trinity and out of Trinity) as only having the left in / left out movements provides the safest outcome for the intersection.

Following community feedback and further traffic modelling the right-hand turn movement into Trinity Drive was reinstated into the final design. Unfortunately, the reinstatement of the right turn out of Trinity Drive is not supported by Council or TfNSW as it creates additional safety conflicts.

Dunheved Road is classified as a Regional Road. These types of roads perform an intermediate function between the main arterial network of State Roads and council-controlled Local Roads. Dunheved Road is currently a two-lane, two-way carriageway and it is also an undivided road.

Penrith City Council has conducted extensive surveys, traffic studies and modelling which assessed the current two-lane model as unsustainable for future traffic volumes. The final design includes a median-separated, four-lane carriageway with dedicated turning lanes at signalised intersections to better manage traffic volumes, flow and safety. 

Dunheved Road is also used by B-Doubles accessing the Dunheved Business Park and their use of the road is expected to rise in line with future development planned across Penrith and Western Sydney region.

The community has played an essential role in the planning and design of the upgrade. Residents, businesses, nearby schools and road users were consulted during the public exhibition of the concept design (2021) and the Review of Environmental Factors (2022). Thousands of contributions were received via an online survey, emails, phone calls and in-person meetings.

Feedback and ideas received throughout this consultation process informed the final design. Council was pleased to accommodate several suggested changes from the community into the final design:

• Right turn lane into Trinity Drive for westbound motorists.
• New signalised intersection at Tasman Street.
• Removal of previously proposed traffic signals at John Oxley Avenue. The intersection of John Oxley Avenue and Dunheved Road is now a priority intersection with westbound left in/left out and eastbound right turn into John Oxley Avenue. No right turn out of John Oxley Avenue, with motorists, advised to use Francis Street or the intersection of Werrington Road and Parkes Avenue.
• Noise treatments for eligible properties backing onto the road corridor based on future noise modelling assessments conducted as part of the REF.

The new proposal is designed to improve traffic flow along Dunheved Road while balancing the safety of drivers and pedestrians in surrounding streets

In line with current practice, Council will continue to monitor traffic flow on Dunheved Road and side streets. Council will continue to address traffic issues on side streets as required.

If you have specific concerns about speeding vehicles, please contact the local police department. If you have concerns about traffic, please contact council@penrith.city.

Noise and vibration assessments have been completed as part of the design process to assess the need for noise barriers or noise treatments for individual properties. Existing noise levels have been recorded and modelled in a software factoring future traffic volumes to develop suitable mitigation measures. Noise assessment criteria comply with TfNSW guidelines.

Acoustic barriers have been recommended as part of the noise mitigation measures for operational traffic noise. These barriers will be located mostly on the northern side of Dunheved Road and will be located at the boundary fences of residential properties identified as needing additional mitigation. A visual representation of these barrier locations is shown in Figure 6-3 of the REF (page 50).

These barriers will be a minimum of 2.0m high and will be made of suitable material to dampen noise generated by traffic flow. They will appear as high boundary fences and will be made from unobtrusive material and colour/texture and patterns, so they blend into their environment. Landscape plantings will also assist with blending these barriers into the environment.

Noise treatments will be provided in accordance with TfNSW and EPA Guidelines to eligible properties that meet the relevant threshold criteria.

The Australian Government under the Infrastructure Investment Program (formerly the Urban Congestion Fund) has committed $128 million towards the Dunheved Road Upgrade. Further information can be found at: https://investment.infrastructure.gov.au/

Some vegetation will be removed due to the road widening. Additional space is required within the road corridor to accommodate the new median separated travel lanes compared to the existing road layout.

The removal of existing trees is minimised where possible and replacement trees will be planted to compensate for existing trees that are removed.

Construction procurement processes are expected to begin in mid 2024. We then anticipate the start of works on site in early 2025 with construction scheduled to be complete by mid 2027.

Following consultation for the concept design and the Review of Environmental Factors (REF), Council made a number of changes to final design:

• Right turn lane into Trinity Drive for westbound motorists.
• New signalised intersection at Tasman Street.
• Removal of previously proposed traffic signals at John Oxley Avenue. The intersection of John Oxley Avenue and Dunheved Road is now a priority intersection with westbound left in/left out and eastbound right turn into John Oxley Avenue. No right turn out of John Oxley Avenue, with motorists, advised to use Francis Street or the intersection of Werrington Road and Parkes Avenue.
• Noise treatments for eligible properties backing onto the road corridor based on future noise modelling assessments conducted as part of the REF.

Further information is available in the REF which is located in the Document Library.