Kiama councillor Gavin McClure believes a proposed roundabout at the intersection of Oxley Avenue and Riverside Drive has the potential to add to the traffic problems in Kiama Downs rather than solve them.
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Kiama councillors last month were given a recommendation to retain Kiama Municipality's only set of traffic lights at Meehan Drive and build a roundabout at the nearby intersection of Oxley Avenue and Riverside Drive to help address residents' traffic safety concerns.
Instead, councillors voted to defer the decision and return the issue to the Kiama traffic committee for comment, as well as prepare a design and cost estimate for a roundabout at the intersection of Gibraltar Avenue and Riverside Drive.
Cr McClure said he had serious concerns that during school times, a roundabout at Oxley Avenue would become congested and see traffic back up towards the Minnamurra bends.
He said there was only a short sight distance between the final bend and Oxley Avenue. While the distance fell within Roads and Maritime Services guidelines, he believed traffic could back up to create a dangerous situation during peak times.
"I don't have a problem with a speed calming device being there but I think a roundabout would cause problems," Cr McClure said.
Cr McClure, who lives on Gibraltar Avenue and runs a taxi and bus company, said the Gibraltar Avenue roundabout could be a better option for slowing down traffic on Riverside Drive as speeding vehicles coming up the hill were more of an issue than vehicles travelling down the hill, which slowed as they approached the traffic lights.
"At weekends there are bikes travelling 100km/h up this hill," he said.
Cr McClure said he personally didn't have a problem with the traffic lights and felt those who were frustrated with the lights could be appeased by allowing a left turn on red and recalibrating the lights to reduce the time between the changes.
He was however surprised at the lack of response to the Kiama council survey.
An Illawarra Mercury poll asking if the traffic lights at Kiama Downs should be removed attracted 243 votes with 144 votes in favour of their removal and 99 against.