Barton Highway's tired story

The Barton was ranked the eighth worst stretch for motorists in NSW in the NRMA's annual Seeing Red on Roads survey, an increase from last years fifth place.

The Highway has made the list of most defective roads for over 10 years for both NSW and ACT, that the story is a tired one.   

It was also among the top three most-complained about roads in the ACT region, along with Gundaroo Drive and Horse Park Drive in Gungahlin.

Motorists signalled that heavily congested main roads in Canberra's booming outer suburbs were chief among their concerns.

Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight, Duncan Gay, said that the Barton Highway forms part of the  National Land Transport Network, a network determined under the National Land Transport Act 2014 which is administered by the Federal Department for Infrastructure and Regional Development.

“The NSW Government is working in close collaboration with the Australian Government and has already committed a special purpose grant of $3 million in funding to kick start improvement works. This is part of an overall $15 million commitment, with the Federal Government committing $12 million,” he said.

“In partnership with the Australian Government, the NSW Government also invested $150,000 towards developing the Barton Highway Corridor Improvement Strategy.”

Mr Gay said the Corridor Improvement Strategy, that was originally due for release in December of last year, is due to be released by the end of the month.

NRMA ACT director Kate Lundy said the territory's roads and public transport infrastructure needed to keep pace with the region's fast-growing population if the territory was to avoid Sydney-style traffic jams.

Ms Lundy said many commuters who used the Barton Highway became frustrated by traffic jams where the road narrowed, which increased road safety risks. 

"You've got a road that has needed to be duplicated for awhile and you've got the most dangerous roundabout in the ACT on that stretch," Ms Lundy said. 

Ms Lundy, a former Labor minister, this week said figures on the capital's worst crash intersections backed the Canberra Liberals' argument for a Barton Highway flyover.

Recent data showed there were more than 500 crashes at the Barton Highway-Gundaroo Drive-William Slim Drive roundabout in the past five years, which made it by far the most common ACT site for an accident.

Ms Lundy said anticipating where road duplications were needed and starting planning and construction work earlier would make a significant difference to congestion on roads further down the track.

The Pacific Highway, which runs along the east coast, and Pennant Hills Road and Parramatta Road in Sydney's west and north-western suburbs, were named the most hated roads in NSW.

The notoriously dangerous Kings Highway east of Canberra has previously been named the worst road in the capital region but did not rate a mention this year.

Ms Lundy said that indicated drivers had welcomed recent upgrades to the highway, but she pointed out NRMA motorists often identified the stretch of roads as one of the south coast's most dangerous. 

Capital region's three worst roads

1. Gundaroo Drive

2. Barton Highway

3. Horse Park Drive

Worst roads in NSW/ACT

1. Pacific Highway

2. Pennant Hills Road

3. Parramatta Road

4. Princes Highway

5. M4 Western Motorway

6. Wattle Tree Road (Holgate)

7. Great Western Highway

8. Barton Highway

9. M5 Motorway

10. Narellan Road