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Pelican-Blacksmiths intersection safety improvements

About the project

We’re upgrading the intersection of the Pacific Highway, Soldiers Road and Awabakal Avenue at Blacksmiths.

Our goal is to create a safer highway crossing for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as motorists, by updating crossings and turning movements across the intersection.

Your feedback will help us create a safer route for pedestrians and cyclists traveling between Pelican and Blacksmiths, and improve connectivity between the Fernleigh Awabakal Shared Track and the Ron Brown Way shared pathway on Soldiers Road.

This project is jointly funded by Council, the Australian Government through its Active Transport Fund, and the NSW Government through its Get NSW Active program.

Simplified design

The proposed improvements include installing new crossings and amending turning movements across the intersection to reduce the risk of collision and create safer travel for all users. The design ensures that more heavily trafficked turning movements remain unaffected. 

Note: Some Pelican and Blacksmiths residents may have received a copy of the above design that omitted the ‘No right turn out of Awabakal Avenue' change under the “Changes for Motorists” heading. This was an error and has been corrected above.

The survey is now closed. Thanks for participating.

Thanks for sharing feedback. We'll review our proposed design and share the final version by mid-2026. 

Documents

FAQs

An increase in pedestrian and cyclist activity between the Ron Brown Way shared pathway on Soldiers Road and the proposed extension of the Ron Brown Way from Soldiers Road to Naru Street, as well as on the new Ferneligh Awabakal Shared Track will lead to an increased risk of collision as users travel across the Pacific Highway between Pelican and Blacksmiths. 

Anticipated population growth in our city's south and on the Central Coast indicate that traffic along the Pacific Highway is expected to increase in coming years, further heightening this risk. 

The proposed changes will make it safer for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists travelling through the intersection now and into the future. 

Staged construction is expected to commence in early 2026, with construction of the Ron Brown Way shared pathway along the Pacific Highway, between Naru Street and Lake Macquarie Airport. 

Stage Two of the project will start in late 2026 and will include the intersection safety improvements and a 300m extension of the shared pathway from the southern side of Soldiers Road to Lake Macquarie Airport, linking with Stage One to create a safer, continuous connection. 

Proposed changes to traffic movements across the intersection are expected to improve the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and motorists and reduce the risk of collisions. 

Traffic counts show use of the current turn movements at the intersection is minimal, as intersections to the south offer safer turning options for motorists. 

Motorists can cross the Pacific Highway at two other intersections:

  • Karog and Tirriki streets
  • Turea and Gommera streets

See our map of intersections along the Pacific Highway for more guidance. 

Two options are available for southbound travel onto the Pacific Highway; motorists can turn right from Karog Street but the safest option would be to use the lights at Turea Street.

See our map of intersections along the Pacific Highway for more guidance. 

There are three safer options to access Blacksmiths if you are travelling northbound along the Pacific Highway:

  • turn right at the lights at Gommera Street
  • use the right-hand turn lane onto Tirriki Street
  • use the right-hand turn lane onto Maneela Street.

See our map of intersections along the Pacific Highway for more guidance. 

Northbound motorists along the Pacific Highway will no longer be able to turn right into Awabakal Avenue to access the southern (Blacksmiths) end of Nine Mile Beach by 4WD. 

Northbound motorists seeking 4WD access to Nine Mile Beach are encouraged to exit the Pacific Highway at Gommera, Tirriki or Maneela streets at Blacksmiths then travel north up Ungala Street to Awabakal Avenue. 

Alternatively, 4WD access to the beach is also available further north via Beach Street and Ocean Park Road at Belmont South. 

See our map of intersections along the Pacific Highway for more guidance or visit belmontwetlands.com.au for more information on 4WD access to Nine Mile Beach.

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Who's listening

  • Aaron
    Projects and Technical Officer
    Lake Macquarie City Council