When will M2 reopen...

[queequeg]

I always aim to cross the ramps at maximum speed where possible, but if there is traffic then I adjust as required.

The afternoon is the hardest due to the westerly sun. You need to be mindful that cars approaching from behind can’t see you if the sun is low in the sky, especially westbound just after the Norfolk tunnel, crossing the off ramp to Beecroft Rd (common location for riders getting hit!), so at this one, expect to stop and always check three times, especially for late exiters.

Heading East, the danger crossing is the Lane COBE Rd off-ramp and on-ramp. I always look for the early crossing over to the painted island while it is a single lane. Once it opens to two lanes you have to be watching for both the mail lane and late exiters. On busy days I will end up rolling all the way to the official crossing point at the gap in the median, and having to stop to wait for a gap. Better to do this than to get steamrolled as I have seen riders down at this exit before as well.

[vosadrian]

Yeah, I thimk speed is your friend when crossing. I prefer the downhill crossings at 50+kph to the uphill at 20kph. You can dart across really quickly at speed and minimise the exposure to traffic. Once you have to stop, you need a really big gap before you can cross.

I am surprised how often drivers are making space for me lately. It seems half the time I arrive at an on ramp when there is a lot of traffic, a driver will slow down to let me across. You just have to keep looking over your shoulder to see this happening!

[robbo mcs]

I am surprised how often drivers are making space for me lately. It seems half the time I arrive at an on ramp when there is a lot of traffic, a driver will slow down to let me across. You just have to keep looking over your shoulder to see this happening!

Yep, seems to happen a fair bit. I signal my intentions as early as possible, stick my arm out to let them know I'm going.

I find the ones where the on ramp has to merge into another lane not too bad. That is most of them. The cars are looking ahead and not going too fast, as they know they have to merge. However, the ones where the on ramp actually becomes a new lane in its own right are dangerous, as the drivers are putting the foot down. Eastbound cars coming on from PHR for example.

[tez001]

The amount of crap on the M2, first time I rode it since the Northconnex works etc, so well over a year.
Two punctures and a cab ride home I dont think I'll be riding it anytime soon for a while.

[vosadrian]

You really need to choose tyres differently if using the M2/M7 regularly. For me, one bike runs gatorskins and the other GP5k tubeless. Both have given me thousands of motorway kms with minimal stops (I think maybe one in several thousand motoray kms). Most of my rides include 10+kms on the motorway.

[caneye]

There is a lot of debris on the M2 at the moment. Recent showers have not helped.

Just before the new NC cycle bridge, westbound, there's broken glass on the left. Been there for almost a week now. I keep forgetting about it until I reach the same spot. Keep an eye. I suspect it's what caused a slow rear leak on my bike.

[shouldnobetter]

When the lockdown started earlier in the year and I was no longer commuting, which usually makes up most of my riding, one of my short before-starting-work rides was along the M2 from Pennant Hills Rd to Delhi Rd and back again.

I did this eight times and got four punctures. All of the punctures were caused by short pieces of wire. I installed a blue tyre liner and moved further from the left road boundary, but still got punctures, so stopped doing this ride.

Until a few years ago I worked in Macquarie Park and used to commute along this part of the M2 with few punctures, so I could believe that it is being cleaned less now.

[tez001]

I agree that there is alot of debris on the stretch from Delhi Rd to the M7 start
When i did the ride prior to the closures, the M2 was generally pretty good, it was the M7 shoulder down the industrial parts where it was pretty average.

[caneye]

I've had the chance to ride through the NC intersection from various directions now.
Unfortunately for Queequeg, I believe southbound PHR then westbound M2 onramp is the worst possible combination.

1) At the intersection, southbound on PHR - there are 5 lanes at the traffic lights - 1 lane for traffic exiting NC, 2 lanes for PHR southbound, 2 lanes for M2 westbound. Time of day will dictate which lane you use (or use footpath instead).

2) Once you get on to the M2 westbound onramp, as you pick up speed with the descent, you then need to be very careful, watch for 2 lanes of traffic exiting NC on your left, as you will need to cut across to the M2 breakdown lane. Be prepared to hit the brakes. That crossing is so sketchy.

[queequeg]

I've had the chance to ride through the NC intersection from various directions now.
Unfortunately for Queequeg, I believe southbound PHR then westbound M2 onramp is the worst possible combination.

1) At the intersection, southbound on PHR - there are 5 lanes at the traffic lights - 1 lane for traffic exiting NC, 2 lanes for PHR southbound, 2 lanes for M2 westbound. Time of day will dictate which lane you use (or use footpath instead).

2) Once you get on to the M2 westbound onramp, as you pick up speed with the descent, you then need to be very careful, watch for 2 lanes of traffic exiting NC on your left, as you will need to cut across to the M2 breakdown lane. Be prepared to hit the brakes. That crossing is so sketchy.

I figured as much. Tbh, it was always pretty sketchy trying to come down the hill and get into the right hand turn lanes. It seems that if you want to head Westbound now, the safer option would be definitely accessing via the Oakes Rd entry. Without navigating the WPH valley, that would require making a turn at either Aiken or Eaton Rd, neither of which is easy to do.

One potential option I can see on Google Maps would be to come through the carpark at Thompsons Corner where the scout hall is. It shows there is a path from there down to Brett Pl, and although there are some bollards to deal with, you can jump from there to Jade Pl to Lonsdale pl, which then give you access to Oratava Ave, then into Dehlsen Ave, Salina Ave and onto Aiken Rd. I'll do some recon to see how difficult/convoluted that is. Coming back, you would just exit at PHR road and take the shared path up past the control centre.

[splash_dad]

If my memory still works.

The path down from the scout hall is not bicycle friendly, gravel plus steps.

For southbound on PHR at Thompson Corner I suggest you ride down either footpath and then cross at the lights at Aiken then Aiken to Oakes. I think there is sign saying no bicycles on the southbound road section between Thompson Corner and Aiken.