Project description
Construction is underway on Sulwood Drive improvements.
Improving access to Mount Taylor Nature Reserve from Sulwood Drive is underway. This project will improve safety for residents and visitors accessing the Mount Taylor Nature Reserve whether by driving, riding or walking.
Key features
Key features
- A new 4-kilometre long and 3-metre wide asphalt, off-road path on the southern side of Sulwood Drive between Drakeford Drive and Athllon Drive. This new off-road shared path will include safety barriers where required.
- Two raised pedestrian crossings on Inkster Street and Livingston Avenue with associated streetlighting. (Completed August 2023)
- Traffic lights at the intersection of Mannheim Street and Sulwood Drive, including pedestrian signals.
- Pavement rehabilitation of 1 kilometre of Sulwood Drive, approximately 500 metres on either side of the Mannheim Street intersection.
- A new concrete path on Mannheim Street between Mackay Crescent and Sulwood Drive.
- Changes to the entry and exit points, as well as a safe right turn, into the Mount Taylor carpark.
Landscaping
Landscaping
Approximately 100 trees/large shrubs will be removed to facilitate the intersection upgrade and new shared path. They will be replaced by a combination of trees, grasses and groundcovers. This includes around 100 trees consisting of native species as well as an area of more than 2,500 square metres of grasses and groundcovers.
Asset protection zone
The Mount Taylor Nature Reserve creates a constrained environment for this project. There is an asset protection zone (also commonly referred to as a fire protection zone) which extends from the Mount Taylor Nature Reserve and across to the southern side of Sulwood Drive where the new shared path will be built.
An asset protection zone is a fuel reduced area surrounding a location that provides a buffer and defendable space to allow residents and firefighters a degree of safety before, during and after a bushfire. Asset protection zones have strict requirements about what can and can’t be planted in these zones to minimise the risk or severity of any fire.
The asset protection zone means we are unable to replace the removed trees like for like in the same locations. The tree plantings will be spread out along the length of the new path alignment. You can view the final indicative design, showing the planned landscaping, here (PDF 5.7MB).
Construction
The early works package to deliver the new raised crossings on Inkster Street and Livingston Avenue and associated streetlighting was completed in mid 2023.
Construction is now underway on the main package of works which has been separated into two stages:
- roadworks: pavement rehabilitation, Mannheim Street intersection upgrade, new right-turn into the Mount Taylor carpark including changes to the entry and exit points
- shared path.
Upcoming work
Work will begin on site with site establishment towards the end of April 2024. This includes installation of the site compound and associated storage facilities to be located in the grassed area along Sulwood Drive near the Mannheim Street intersection.
Construction activities will begin from Monday 6 May 2024. The first stage of works is expected to take just over 3 months to complete (weather permitting).
Most of the works will be carried out as dayworks between the hours of 7 am and 5 pm Monday to Friday. At times works may be carried out during the same hours on weekends.
Temporary closure of Sulwood Drive
To complete the first stage of works as quickly as possible, Sulwood Drive will be closed in both directions between Inkster Street and Livingston Avenue from Monday 6 May 2024 for 13 weeks (weather permitting). The road closure will be implemented following the morning peak period. When the road reopens the new traffic lights will be in operation.
During this time road users will be able to:
- turn left out of Inkster Street onto Sulwood Drive and right into Inkster Street from Sulwood Drive
- turn right out of Livingston Avenue onto Sulwood Drive and left into Livingston Avenue from Sulwood Drive.
There will be no access to Sulwood Drive from Mannheim Street. Signed detours will be in place with vehicles encouraged to take alternative routes via Drakeford Drive, Summerland Circuit and Athllon Drive. View the detour map here.
We acknowledge this road closure will be disruptive for the local community. A full road closure for 13 weeks avoids extended partial closures which would create even longer disruption and delay the completion of this important project. Updates on the road closure will be provided via on-site signage, on this project page and via email.
Access to the Mount Taylor Nature Reserve
During the road closure there will be no access to the formalised Mount Taylor carpark on Sulwood Drive. Informal off-road parking will be permitted along Sulwood Drive at either end of the road closure. Pedestrian access to the Mount Taylor Nature Reserve, adjacent to the intersection with Mannheim Street, will be maintained as much as possible. For safety reasons, it may be necessary to temporarily close access for some construction activities. Signage will be installed to inform the community. Pedestrians are reminded to please be mindful of the construction activities and do not enter the construction site at any time.
Next stage of works
Following the completion of these roadworks, work will begin to deliver the new shared path along the southern side of Sulwood Drive between Drakeford Drive and Athllon Drive. More information will be provided ahead of works starting including construction timeframes.
