| Building has now commenced on the school's two-storey Administration Block - Watch out for new photographs as they are uploaded. RTA Plan for Woodford to Hazelbrook Station Street Woodford to Ferguson Avenue Hazelbrook As part of the Great Western Highway Upgrade program, it is planned to widen the existing two-lane highway between Station Street, Woodford and Ferguson Avenue, Hazelbrook, to a four-lane divided highway. Project benefits (as outlined by the RTA) The upgrading of this 3.8 kilometre section of the highway will have major benefits for the local community and through traffic. Travel times within the region and to and from Sydney will be reduced. There will be improved access for road users, including pedestrians and cyclists. The Great Western Highway upgrade program In 1998, the NSW Government announced a 12-year, $360 million upgrade of the Great Western and Mitchell highways between Penrith and Orange. In addition the Federal Government committed an extra $100 million towards the Great Western Highway upgrade. Key features of the Great Western Highway upgrade through the Blue Mountains include: * Widening the highway to a four-lane divided road between Penrith and Katoomba. * Widening the highway to mostly three lanes between Katoomba and Mount Victoria. * Providing additional overtaking lanes along stretches of the highway. * Improving pedestrian and traffic facilities at intersections crossing the highway in townships. * Providing bicycle facilities along the highway. * Extensive landscaping and urban design initiatives within towns and villages. The Woodford to Hazelbrook proposal Local environment and heritage Extensive landscaping with native and exotic tree plantings to enhance the appearance of the highway corridor forms part of the proposal. Complementary finishes to walls and street furniture will be included. The proposal specifically aims to preserve significant local natural and cultural landmarks and minimise the impact on private property. Woodford Academy, the memorial and parkland at Memorial Park in Woodford, will be protected. Improved local access and safety Access to the highway will be altered to provide improved intersections at Oaklands and Park roads, Clearview Parade, Woodford and Beechmount Avenues. Some local roads will be closed at the highway and connected to the main intersections by new local link roads to improve access and safety. Residences with direct access to the highway will have a wide kerbside shoulder for occasional parking and safer access. Pedestrians and cyclists Access for cyclists will be via a cycle lane on the highway shoulder. A shared off-road pedestrian/cycleway would extend the length of the project along the northern side. Signalised pedestrian crossings would be provided at the intersections of Park and Oaklands roads and the highway. A new pedestrian/cycle bridge across the highway will provide convenient access between north and south Hazelbrook and the railway station. What's happening now? Construction is being undertaken in three stages. Stage One works included the building of a railway underpass at Oaklands Road to link Railway Parade to the highway. Stage Two - Station Street to Park Road, Woodford. Stage Three includes widening the highway, constructing new local roads, improving intersections and building a pedestrian/cycle bridge over the highway to Hazelbrook Railway Station from Park Road, Woodford to Ferguson Avenue. | 
