Partnership drives improved safety and access

Penrith Mayor and design and construction partners

Wednesday, 12 June 2019

The reconstruction of O’Connell Street, Caddens from a rural road to a collector road that moves traffic from local streets to arterial roads, has been given the “tick of approval” with its reopening to traffic recently.


The old road with its narrow gravel shoulders, deteriorating road pavement, poor sight distances and inadequate street lighting has been completely replaced with kerb and gutter drainage, new road pavement, street lighting, shared cycleway, bus stops and shelters and the undergrounding of high voltage overhead power lines.


The reconstruction was made possible through a Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA) with Legacy Property under the Caddens East Planning Agreement. The agreement in collaboration with Penrith City Council sought to improve road safety and access for the community. Legacy Property is the developer of the new Caddens Hill which currently comprises of seven stages.


Penrith Mayor Ross Fowler OAM said the works represent a partnership between the public and private sector that has widespread community benefit.


“O’Connell Street has received a significant upgrade which not only improves access between Caddens, Kingswood and Claremont Meadows, but importantly improves safety too,” Cr Fowler said.


“I’d like to thank Legacy Property for their work on the O’Connell Street upgrade and the Caddens East Planning Agreement. It shows how organisations can work side by side with Council to contribute positive outcomes for the community.”


Legacy Property’s Thomas Kent said the $8m O’Connell Street upgrade will provide much needed transport connectivity for the rapidly growing Caddens Hill community.”


“There are hundreds of residents living in Caddens Hill, with over 200 houses under construction and new residents moving in every week,” said Mr Kent, “The new walking/cycle paths, bus shelters and reconstructed road now provide Caddens Hill residents with better links to transport and employment opportunities around Penrith City.”


“This significant infrastructure investment will also better connect the wider Caddens Hill community with the future shopping centre at Caddens Corner.” said Mr Kent.


The success of the project is largely attributed to the strong partnership between Council, Legacy Property, the local design team at J. Wyndham Prince and the local construction team at JK Williams.

Overview of the re-constructed O’Connell Street:
• collector road (that moves traffic from local streets to arterial roads) with kerb and gutter on both sides;
• new road pavement;
• upgraded drainage infrastructure;
• dedicated parking lanes;
• shared walking/cycle path along the southern side of O'Connell Street linking to the Caddens Hill;
• new bus shelters;
• undergrounding of high voltage overhead power lines, and;
• provision of road safety barriers.

Information contained within this news release was correct as at Wednesday, 12 June 2019.