M2 Widening - Speed Limits

I particularly liked this extract from Michael Stove's BCCT submission relating to road noise:

"Speed limits must be kept low to reduce noise and pollution. There is no real need for the speed limit on this part of the M2 to be set at 100kph; a level of 80 kph would be adequate and safer. Apart from any other considerations, peak traffic levels probably mean that a speed of even 80 kph is in real terms unlikely to be achieved."

Several years ago the RTA introduced a trial of narrower lane markings in the west lane between Lane Cove Road and Beecroft Road, giving three lanes at very low cost and rapid implementation. The narrower lanes mandate an 80kph speed limit, which Michael's comment above suggests is no bad thing. The RTA narrow lane trial seems to have been entirely successful, only hampered because it terminates in the two (wider) lanes between Beecroft Road and Pennant Hills Road.

Extending the narrow three lanes solution along to Pennant Hills Road could be done very quickly and without damaging the Chilworth Recreation Reserve. The construction cost and time savings of avoiding the proposed eight lane flyover there would be enormous.

The RTA document rejects this narrower lane marking solution as an alternative to widening the road for reasons that seem very debatable. The "narrow lane / reduced speed / low cost / fast implementation" solution should be re-considered, at least on the Beecroft Road to Pennant Hills Road section westbound.