A NEW, seven-day clearway is in force on Princes Highway between Blakehurst and Kirrawee.
Parking is banned on both sides of the highway between King Georges Road, Blakehurst, and President Avenue, Kirrawee, from 6am to 10am and 3pm to 7pm weekdays.
On weekends, the same restrictions apply from 10am to 7pm.
Previously, a clearway operated for northbound traffic during the morning peak and for southbound traffic in the afternoon. There were no weekend restrictions.
The changes came into effect yesterday, more than 18 months after they were first proposed by Roads Minister Duncan Gay.
Princes Highway, from Blakehurst to Kirrawee, was one of five "priority routes" identified for inclusion in a new "congestion-busting strategy" to maximise use of existing road space and increase traffic flow on major arterial roads.
A Roads and Maritime Services spokeswoman said since then there had been close liaison with Kogarah Council and consultation with business owners affected by the changes.
Alternative parking arrangements had been made.
"New one-hour parking spaces are in place on James Street between Princes Highway and Stuart Lane and Stuart Lane car park, 10 additional parking spaces have been provided in the Blake Avenue car park and improved spaces are available at the Church Street and Water Street car park at Blakehurst," she said.
Smiths Seafood at Blakehurst, which has operated for more than 100 years, first as West Seafood, is among businesses that could suffer.
Craig Smith, whose family has owned the business for more than 30 years, said extra parking provided in Blake Avenue would help, but many customers who were used to "pulling up out the front" on weekends might be lost.
Mr Smith said a total of 15 one-hour time limited parking spaces were now available in Blake Avenue, close to his shop, but they were shared with four other businesses.
"It's too early to say what the effect will be but we are very afraid," he said.
"Weekends will be the worst and we think we could lose 40 to 50 per cent of our customers during those times."
A CLEAR PATH
A similar clearway introduced on Victoria Road, Rozelle, last year reduced traffic delays by 40 percent, Roads and Maritime Services said:
Vehicles left on a clearway can be towed away and owners fined. Call 131700 to report offences.
A proposed seven-day clearway on King Georges Road from Beverly Hills to Greenacre is still ‘‘in the pipeline’’, with investigations into alternative parking options.
Motorists can nominate new clearways at: transport.nsw.gov.au/clearways.
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