The ring road design proposed by Parramatta Council. Picture: Parramatta Council.
Orbital roads that link the M4 to major thoroughfares around Parramatta were given in principle support by Infrastructure NSW.
The plans for two orbital ‘‘ring roads’’ were proposed by Parramatta Council late last year and were picked up in the 20-year plan for the state’s infrastructure needs.
Lord Mayor John Chedid said he was pleased the infrastructure department had listened to the council.
‘‘Infrastructure NSW clearly understands that for Parramatta to meet its full growth potential, investment in its transport infrastructure is needed,’’ he said.
Through relatively minor road upgrades, an outer ring road could link the Cumberland Highway, M4 and James Ruse Drive.
The outer ring would be linked to major roads that transport to and from Parramatta, such as Old Windsor and Woodville roads and the Cumberland Highway.
It would then feed into an inner ring road around the CBD.
The Infrastructure NSW report tabled by the body’s chairman Nick Greiner last week was positive about the proposal but said more research was needed.
‘‘On face value, these proposals seem to have strategic logic,’’ the reports says.
‘‘Infrastructure NSW recommends detailed assessment be undertaken of the proposed program with a view to its prioritisation within the next 10 years.’’