The Property Council of Australia has welcomed the start of consultation on the upgrade of Picton Road as both Western Sydney and the Illawarra continue to grow.
Property Council's Western Sydney Regional Director Ross Grove said as the two regions continue to expand, Picton Road should be the major connection between Western Sydney and the Illawarra.
"In our submission Stage 2 of the Outer Sydney Orbital, we reiterated that the upgrade and widening of Picton Road should take precedence over Appin Road, which should take on a more local and subregional role," Mr Grove said.
"We would like to congratulate the work of the Picton Road Motorway Alliance and our local State Members of Parliament Nat Smith and Paul Scully for their continued advocacy for the upgrade of Picton Road.
"Our long-term view is that Picton Road should be a dual carriageway, offering a largely uninterrupted connection between Wollongong and the Western Sydney Aerotropolis. A seamless connection between these two destinations will bolster the economic output of the new international airport and Wollongong's visitor economy."
Property Council's Illawarra Regional Director, Michelle Guido backed these sentiments.
"The Picton Road corridor is expected to reach capacity by 2025, which is why this upgrade project is a major priority to improve safety and support the future economic growth of the Illawarra," Ms Guido said.
"It is also a major transport link between the region and Western Sydney for the freight of materials, goods and services and it is vital that we protect this important transport link."
