Calling for an underpass to be built to connect Lynbrook and Lyndhurst are Lyndhurst resident Sam Johnson and Casey councillor Amanda Stapledon. 27457
By Bridget Brady
THEY are only a stone’s throw away, but it can take Lyndhurst residents 20 minutes to drive across the road to Lynbrook.
The residents want an underpass built on Aylmer Road to connect the two towns, and rid them of the “nuisance” distance they travel each day.
Lyndhurst resident Sam Johnson said the two towns, divided by a railway line, had outgrown the infrastructure in place.
Mr Johnson said connecting the towns was vital in order to accommodate the anticipated growth in both towns.
The total population of the two towns is more than 7000 and the projected growth is almost 10,000 by 2016.
It takes Mr Johnson about 20 to 25 minutes to access Lynbrook shops in peak hour traffic from his Lyndhurst home.
“I have trouble getting my head around it. We can put a man on the moon but we can’t connect two neighbouring towns,” he said.
“To me, it’s pathetic. We need an underpass now. It takes me so long just to access shops for milk and bread.”
Mayfield Ward councillor Amanda Stapledon said a vehicle underpass would be a blessing for residents, and suggested the perfect time to built it would be when the Lynbrook railway station was being built.
“The State Government made a welcomed announcement to commit to the railway station at Lynbrook, commencing 2010. We are asking for the State Government to include Aylmer Road vehicle underpass construction at the same time,” Cr Stapledon said.
“These are two very close-knit communities that access the same facilities but seem to be slightly isolated by distance.”
There is a pedestrian underpass in place for people to cross the two towns, but vehicles must do a round trip along two major highways to access the towns by car.
“Lyndhurst residents are required to travel these distances to access the school and shopping centre in Lynbrook.”
But president of the Lynbrook Residents Association, Neil Smith, said he did not think Aylmer Road would ever have a vehicle crossing.
“We (residents association) have had talks about it but the general consensus is that due to the size limit of Aylmer Road west of the railway line, it is just not feasible to put an overpass there.”
But Mr Smith agreed that the infrastructure in place was not sufficient to cut down the “nuisance” trip between the towns.
He said if the State Government made a decision to build a vehicle underpass, now would be the time to do it.
“I have often walked under the pedestrian path into Lyndhurst, and it is just not designed for traffic.”
But Mr Johnson said you get nothing when you ask for nothing.
“The squeaky door gets the oil,” he said.
The State Government did not comment on the possibility of building an underpass , before the News went to print.
