I live on Findlay Lane just off Mainwaring, west of the new McTavish and Pat Bay Highway interchange.
I have watched the construction over the last one-and-a-half years as the project developed. Congratulations on an amazing feat.
I want to say first of all that I have been totally amazed at the minimal disruption of the intersection. Ninety per cent of the time I took another route, but the odd time I did want to use the highway from that spot I was always so impressed by the way the traffic was re-routed. At no time were there any long waits, and it was fascinating to watch things develop.
I personally think it is a marvel of design and engineering. The first time I used all the round-a-bouts I thought it was a great and efficient system (and a lot of fun.) and I still do. I use it every day to go to work in Sidney. I have used the roundabout to the airport for quite a while and it is great. I feel they are the best way to intersect roads.
A side effect of the new interchange that I had not even thought of is the dramatic reduction in noise. The first evening it opened, I was looking out the window in our garden and I suddenly realised it was almost totally quiet. Usually the noise of the traffic was an almost constant roar with the trucks gearing down to the red light and then the huge roar as the vehicles raced off on the green.
Also, we would hear sirens of police or ambulance or fire trucks averaging once or twice a day every day to that intersection. To date, I have not heard one siren stop there.
Now, of course it is with great excitement that I watch all the work fixing up and connecting McTavish.
Would you be able to send a copy of this letter to the actual designer of the project. I have never seen anything like it, and he/she should be very proud.
Karen Aspinall, Sidney